BEIJING, April 14 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Beijing on Friday.

Xi welcomed Lula for his state visit to China and expressed his great pleasure to meet an old friend in the warm spring of Beijing. Xi congratulated Lula on the strong start of his government.

He also expressed his sincere sympathy in person to Lula who had to postpone his visit due to an ailment. Xi said that he is truly heartened to see Lula fully recovered, and appreciated the high importance Lula attaches to the bilateral relationship by traveling long distances to China soon after his recovery.

Xi pointed out that China and Brazil are the two biggest developing countries and emerging markets in the Eastern and Western hemispheres, respectively. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Brazil share extensive common interests.

China always views and develops relations with Brazil from a strategic and long-term perspective, and sees the relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda, he said.

Xi noted that Lula is an old friend of the Chinese people, and has long followed and supported China-Brazil friendship and promoted the phenomenal growth of bilateral ties.

Xi expressed his readiness to work with Lula from their strategic vantage point to steer and create a new future for China-Brazil relations in the new era, and to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.

Xi noted that for China, 2023 is the first year of fully implementing the guiding principles set forth at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC is leading the entire nation in a concerted effort to turn China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

"On this new journey, China will pursue high-quality development, accelerate the creation of a new development paradigm and promote high-standard opening-up. This will unlock new opportunities for Brazil and countries around the world," Xi said.

Xi expressed his confidence that a China-Brazil relationship that continues to enjoy sound and steady growth is bound to play an important and positive role for peace, stability and prosperity in their regions and beyond.