China part of Brazil’s future, Jair Bolsonaro says as he and Xi Jinping sign transport and investment agreements

Latin American leader under pressure from beef, farming and mining sectors to stay on good terms with Beijing after nearly torpedoing relationship last year

Summit with Russia, India and South Africa could give Bolsonaro cover to talk to Chinese president without appearing to be disloyal to Trump

Reading Time:2 minutes

China’s President Xi Jinping and Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro speak at a press conference at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:25am, 14 Nov 2019Updated: 7:25am, 14 Nov 2019

China is increasingly part of Brazil’s future, President Jair Bolsonaro said Wednesday, signalling a more pragmatic approach to the Latin American country’s biggest trade partner.

Standing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, Bolsonaro said he hoped the two countries could not only increase but also “diversify our trade relations”.

“China is becoming more and more part of Brazil’s future,” Bolsonaro said, after the two men signed largely non-binding agreements on transport, services and investment ahead of a summit of BRICS countries.

Xi echoed the positive sentiments, expressing hopes for the two countries to “strengthen multilateralism and build an open world economy”.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro (left) greets China's President Xi Jinping next to Russia's President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS Business Council in Brasilia on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Their meeting – the second in as many months – was one of several to be held on the sidelines of the annual BRICS get-together that will focus on economic growth and innovation.