Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Thursday lauded his country's ties with Brazil and proposed efforts to expand cooperation with the South American nation.

Brazil was the first developing nation to establish a strategic partnership with China, Xi said during talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, special envoy of ailing Vice President Jose Alencar Gomes da Silva.

Relations between China and Brazil have shown a good momentum of development in recent years, Xi said, adding that the two countries are now each other's key trading partners.

Cooperation between China and Brazil has become an important component of South-South cooperation, Xi said.

Increased cooperation between China and Brazil, the two emerging powers, is in keeping with their fundamental interests and is also conducive to regional and world peace, cooperation and development, he said.

Xi proposed the two sides expand high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue and promote mutual trust.

They should also expand cooperation in trade, economy, and science and technology, intensify cultural and human exchanges and step up coordination and cooperation in multilateral spheres, he said.

China is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Brazil in the efforts to tackle the global financial crisis and push for reforms of the international financial system, Xi said.

Noting that bilateral cooperation has been fruitful in such areas as economy, trade, and science and technology in recent years, Amorim called for greater cooperation so as to bring their strategic partnership to a higher level.

Xi arrived here on Wednesday for an official visit to the largest country in South America.

Brazil is the fifth leg of Xi's six-nation tour which has already taken him to Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia and Venezuela. He will also visit Malta.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2009)