Xi Jinping said China would “work with Brazil to set an example of unity and self-reliance among major countries in the Global South”.

Brazil's president is trying to build solidarity across the BRICS club of major emerging nations, of which Brazil is a founding member along with Russia, China and India.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese President Xi Jinping have discussed the role of the BRICS group of states and bilateral business over a phone call, according to Lula's office and Chinese state media said.