As Xi Jinping prepares for a thorny trade relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, he is cultivating a rapport with someone he calls a like-minded good friend, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

"The Global South is on a collective rise," Xi wrote in an article published in Brazilian media ahead of his visit on Wednesday.

China and Brazil are like-minded friends with the same aspirations and good partners forging ahead hand in hand, Xi said.

The final moments of the high-profile summit revealed Milei’s more pragmatic streak, coming as a surprise after the irascible president sought to undercut international initiatives.

Argentina's President Javier Milei and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping shake hands on the sidelines of the G20 summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. Argentine Presidency/Handout via REUTERS RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping met with Argentine President Javier Milei on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday,

China's President Xi Jinping met with Argentine President Javier Milei on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, Chinese state television CCTV reported. It was the first meeting between the two leaders.