Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to President Jair Bolsonaro saying he is willing to cooperate with the new Brazilian administration to boost the economies of both countries, safeguard world peace, and foster “pragmatic” bilateral ties. He also congratulated the new government.

In the letter, the Chinese president says that, since China and Brazil established their relations 44 years ago, “the ties between the two countries resisted the international scenarios and developed in an integrated and deep manner.”

Mutual respect, the Asian leader said, is the base of such solid relations. Xi Jinping said he appreciated the statement made by Jair Bolsonaro soon after winning the elections, when he said that China is a major cooperation partner of China.

The Chinese head of state went on to say he is willing to join efforts with President Bolsonaro to respect the main interests of each country and devise long-term strategies.

The letter was delivered yesterday (Jan. 2) to the hands of Bolsonaro by Ji Bingxuan, the Chinese president’s special envoy, China’s Embassy in Brasília reported Thursday (3). Ji Bingxuan is the vice-president of the National Popular Assembly Committee and attended Bolsonaro’s inauguration ceremony two years ago.