China's high-quality development to provide more opportunities for cooperation with Brazil: Xi

China's high-quality development via high-level opening-up will provide more opportunities for cooperation between China and Brazil, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday during a phone call with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In the phone call, Xi noted that in 2024, he and President Lula jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet.

Over the past year and more, the two countries have maintained sound momentum in building a community with a shared future, and pushed for solid progress in fostering synergy between their development strategies, setting up a stellar example of solidarity and cooperation among countries in the Global South, he said.

Noting that this year marks the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, Xi said that China will promote high-quality development via high-level opening-up, which will provide more opportunities for China-Brazil cooperation.

China is willing to work together with Brazil to advance mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, push for greater progress in developing China-Brazil relations, and usher in an even brighter future, he said.

In a turbulent and volatile world, China and Brazil, both as important members of the Global South, are constructive forces in safeguarding world peace and improving global governance, Xi noted.

China and Brazil should firmly stand on the right side of history, better defend the shared interests of the two countries and the Global South, jointly safeguard the central role of the United Nation, and uphold international fairness and justice, Xi said.

China stands ready to always be a good friend and a good partner of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, so as to advance the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future, the Chinese president said.

Noting that cooperation between Brazil and China has made significant progress across all fields since President Xi's historic visit to the South American country in 2024, Lula said that the Brazilian side is willing to join hands with China to promote greater development in bilateral and LAC-China relations.

Brazil and China are important forces in defending multilateralism and upholding free trade, he said.

Given the current worrying international situation, Brazil is willing to work closely with China to uphold the authority of the United Nations, strengthen cooperation with BRICS countries, and maintain regional and global peace and stability, Lula said.

China's high-quality development to provide more opportunities for cooperation with Brazil: Xi

China's high-quality development to provide more opportunities for cooperation with Brazil: Xi

China's high-quality development to provide more opportunities for cooperation with Brazil: Xi

A Chinese representative urged parties to abide by a ceasefire agreement, and de-escalate tensions in Syria as soon as possible at a United Nations Security Council meeting held in New York City on Thursday.

Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said over the recent period, the situation in Syria's Aleppo and the northeastern part of the country had changed significantly, drawing wide attention from the international community.

China noticed that a ceasefire agreement had been reached, and hoped that the agreement will be observed, tensions will be de-escalated as soon as possible, and peace and stability will be restored in Syria at an early date, said Sun.

China hopes that all parties in Syria will promote political reconciliation through dialogue and negotiation and find out a national reconstruction solution that is in the interests of the Syrian people, Sun said.

"China reiterates its support for Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, and opposes external interference. We are willing to work with the international community to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability, and development," said Sun. Syria's defense authorities announced on Tuesday a four-day ceasefire across all operational sectors of the Syrian army, effective from 8:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), as part of efforts to support recently reached understandings with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The ceasefire was declared in commitment to the agreements reached with the SDF and in pursuit of national efforts aimed at preserving security and stability, said a statement carried by Syrian state media.

Syrian officials have described the pause in military operations as a confidence-building measure intended to facilitate dialogue and allow space for the implementation of agreed-upon mechanisms, while preventing further escalation on the ground.

One year into Syria's post-Assad transition, nearly 3 million refugees and internally displaced people have returned home, a sign of cautious progress, said UN News in an online post on Thursday.

UN officials warned that continued incursions by Israel in southern Syria undermine the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and risk further destabilizing an already volatile environment.

Against this fragile backdrop, the situation in northern and northeastern Syria has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks.

China calls for abiding by ceasefire agreement, deescalating tensions in Syria