• Xi Jinping and Lula da Silva discuss "self-reliance" for the Global South.
• Both leaders emphasize opposition to US unilateralism and protectionism.
• Cooperation agreed upon in health, oil, gas, digital economy, and satellites.
• Call for multilateralism through G20 and BRICS institutions.
• Discussions included strategies to counter US tariffs affecting both countries.

In a recent phone call, China’s President Xi Jinping and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva highlighted the potential for their countries to model “self-reliance” within the Global South. This discussion takes place in a context of rising geopolitical challenges and trade tensions stemming from U.S. tariff policies, which both leaders openly oppose, according to channelnewsasia and trtglobal.

During their conversation, Xi stated that China is committed to cooperating with Brazil to exemplify unity among major nations in the region. He spoke about efforts to "jointly build a more just world and more sustainable planet," reinforcing the two nations’ commitment to promoting multilateral trading systems that resist unilateral approaches and protectionism, as noted by aljazeera and thejakartapost.

The leaders spent significant time discussing various global issues, such as the war in Ukraine and climate change, and they reiterated the importance of organizations such as the G20 and BRICS in defending multilateralism. Their coordinated approach aims to enhance cooperation in critical sectors, including health, oil, gas, digital economy, and satellite technology, according to information released by both channelnewsasia and trtglobal.

This dialogue illustrates a burgeoning partnership between China and Brazil as they seek to address the challenges posed by U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions. Lula has indicated plans to engage other BRICS members, such as India, to forge a coordinated response to these measures, echoing sentiments about the necessity of emerging economies to unite against external pressures, as discussed by aljazeera and thejakartapost.