{"id":33774,"date":"2026-01-24T06:29:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T04:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=33774"},"modified":"2026-01-25T06:45:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T04:45:34","slug":"china-and-brazil-underscore-global-south-support-for-un-as-xi-and-lula-hold-phone-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/china-and-brazil-underscore-global-south-support-for-un-as-xi-and-lula-hold-phone-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"China and Brazil underscore Global South support for UN as Xi and Lula hold phone talks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

7 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reaffirmed their shared commitment to the United Nations during a phone call on January 23, 2026, amid international debate triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s newly unveiled \u201cBoard of Peace.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exchange between the two BRICS leaders came as Washington promotes the initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with its scope and long-term implications still unclear. While neither China nor Brazil has confirmed participation in the U.S.-led body, both emphasized the importance of preserving existing multilateral institutions, particularly the UN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Trump formally launched the Board of Peace during a signing ceremony in Davos, following earlier remarks at the World Economic Forum. Initially presented as a mechanism to oversee Gaza\u2019s reconstruction, the board\u2019s charter does not explicitly limit its mandate to the Palestinian territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump said the board \u201ccan do pretty much whatever we want,\u201d adding that it would operate \u201cin conjunction with the United Nations.\u201d These comments have drawn scrutiny from governments and analysts, with some European leaders questioning whether the initiative could sideline or even replace existing UN mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China and Brazil were both invited to join the board, but neither attended the signing ceremony nor confirmed participation. Beijing\u2019s foreign ministry reiterated that \u201cno matter how the international situation changes, China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core.\u201d Brazilian officials voiced similar concerns, with Lula\u2019s special adviser, Celso Amorim, stating, \u201cWe cannot consider a reform of the UN made by one country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Xi and Lula Stress Multilateralism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Chinese state media and official readouts, Xi told Lula that China and Brazil, as major countries of the Global South, are \u201cconstructive forces in maintaining world peace and stability.\u201d He called on both sides to \u201cstand firmly on the right side of history\u201d and to jointly uphold international fairness and justice through the UN framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFacing the turbulent international landscape, China and Brazil, as important members of the Global South, should firmly stand on the right side of history, better champion the common interests of both countries and the Global South, and jointly uphold the central position of the United Nations,\u201d Xi said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chinese<\/a>
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) is welcomed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva before the start of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 18, 2024. (Image Credit: Xinhua\/via China Daily)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Xi also highlighted the economic and developmental dimension of the bilateral relationship. \u201cChina\u2019s high-quality development and continued opening-up will provide more opportunities for cooperation,\u201d he said, noting that in 2024 the two countries elevated their relationship to a \u201ccommunity with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xi added that over the past year, the building of this community has gained solid momentum, with deepening alignment between their development strategies, setting an example of unity and cooperation among Global South countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lula echoed this view, describing Brazil and China as important forces in defending multilateralism and upholding free trade. He said Brazil was willing to work closely with China to uphold the authority of the UN and strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries to safeguard peace and stability regionally and globally. He also highlighted the progress in bilateral cooperation since Xi\u2019s historic visit to Brazil in 2024, which elevated ties to a new level across multiple sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brazil\u2019s presidency confirmed the call lasted approximately 45 minutes, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to the UN as a cornerstone of global peace and stability. The exchange followed Lula\u2019s recent public criticism of U.S. actions in Venezuela, which he described as undermining international law and the post\u2013World War II multilateral order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Broader Geopolitical Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Xi\u2013Lula call comes amid broader shifts in global geopolitics, as Trump\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d policies reshape diplomatic and economic relationships. Analysts note that China and Brazil have increasingly projected unity in defending multilateral frameworks, particularly during periods of heightened trade friction and political uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Trump\u2019s global tariff push last year, Beijing and Bras\u00edlia sought to present themselves as defenders of the multilateral trading system. Xi previously told Lula that the two countries could set an example of \u201cself-reliance\u201d for emerging powers, a theme that continues to feature prominently in their diplomatic exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. President Donald Trump (center) holds a signing of the founding charter at the “Board of Peace” meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026. (Image Credit: President of the Republic of Kosova\/via X\/@VjosaOsmaniPRKS)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, maintains deep engagement with the organization, even as it objects to what it describes as interference in internal affairs. While some advocacy groups have accused Beijing of attempting to weaken parts of the UN system, Chinese officials have rejected such characterizations, arguing that their approach reflects support for sovereignty and balanced reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Economic Ties and Development Cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside political coordination, Xi and Lula emphasized the strength and resilience of China\u2013Brazil economic relations. Xi said China\u2019s high-quality development and continued opening-up would provide more opportunities for cooperation, noting that the two countries elevated their relationship in 2024 to a \u201ccommunity with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lula said Xi\u2019s visit to Brazil last year marked a historic step that lifted bilateral ties to a new level, with cooperation across multiple sectors making notable progress. He added that Brazil was ready to deepen ties further, including cooperation between China and Latin America more broadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic data underscores this trend. Brazil\u2019s trade relationship with China reached a record level in 2025, with total bilateral trade climbing to $171 billion, the highest figure since records began in 1997. China remains Brazil\u2019s largest trading partner, reflecting long-term structural complementarity between the two economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analysts note that while trade has traditionally focused on agricultural and resource-based commodities, future cooperation is expected to expand into manufacturing, industrial chains, and scientific and technological innovation. Recent meetings between Brazilian officials and representatives of Chinese companies in sectors such as energy, mining, construction, and electrical storage point to this diversification.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chinese<\/a>
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 14, 2023. (Image Credit: Ken Ishii\/Reuters)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The reaffirmation of UN-centered multilateralism by China and Brazil also comes amid renewed external pressures on Latin America. Washington imposed a 50 percent tariff on a broad range of Brazilian products in July 2025, prompting Bras\u00edlia to accelerate efforts to diversify its trade partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As ties with China deepen, several Latin American countries have reported record export levels despite U.S. tariffs. Analysts argue that for many countries in the region, economic engagement with China has become an entrenched reality, shaping policy choices even as governments seek to balance relations with Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within this context, China has signaled its intention to remain, in Xi\u2019s words, \u201ca good friend and partner\u201d to Latin America and the Caribbean, while Brazil has emphasized strategic autonomy and opposition to what Lula has called hegemonic approaches to global governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Question of Global Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Xi\u2013Lula call underscores a broader Global South effort to reinforce existing multilateral institutions rather than replace them. Analysts note that as Trump\u2019s Board of Peace raises questions over potential competition with the UN, China and Brazil are signaling a clear preference for strengthening UN-centered multilateralism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lula\u2019s office confirmed that both leaders \u201creiterated their commitment to strengthening the United Nations as a path to safeguarding peace and stability in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against a turbulent international landscape, Xi and Lula\u2019s conversation highlighted China and Brazil\u2019s dual approach: safeguarding global governance and multilateralism while advancing bilateral and regional economic and political cooperation, setting an example for other Global South countries.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chinese<\/a>
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking at a Victory Day reception in Beijing, China, on September 3, 2025. (Image Credit: ChinaDaily\/Xinhua)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reaffirmed their shared commitment to the United Nations during a phone call on January 23, 2026, amid international debate triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s newly unveiled \u201cBoard of Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[115,124,1],"tags":[358,118,167,388,45,134,294,71,747,7,17,625],"class_list":["post-33774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-americas","category-asia-pacific","category-news","tag-americas","tag-brazil","tag-brics","tag-caribbean","tag-china","tag-economy","tag-latin-america","tag-politics","tag-south-america","tag-u-s","tag-un","tag-united-nations"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/China-Xi-Jinping-Brazil-Lula.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-8MK","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33774"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33779,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33774\/revisions\/33779"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}