President Xi Jinping told his Brazilian counterpart on Tuesday the two countries could set an example of "self-reliance" for emerging powers, as trade and geopolitical challenges mount.

In a phone call with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Xi also said all countries should unite and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism.

The two leaders have both in recent months presented their countries as staunch defenders of the multilateral trading system, in stark contrast with US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught.

Their phone call came just hours after Trump announced another 90-day pause to blistering tariffs on China. It also followed indications from Lula last week he planned to speak with the leaders of China and India to consider a coordinated response to US trade measures.

Xi told Lula that China would "work with Brazil to set an example of unity and self-reliance among major countries in the Global South, and jointly build a more just world and more sustainable planet", according to Xinhua News Agency.

Xi called on Global South countries to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, defend the basic norms governing international relations, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, Xinhua reported.

The president also said ties between China and Brazil are now at an all-time high.

Xi said China and Brazil should continue to address global challenges, ensure the success of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, and promote the "Friends of Peace" group's role in facilitating the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

A statement by the Brazilian presidency said the phone call lasted about an hour, and the two leaders discussed a range of topics including the war in Ukraine and the fight against climate change.

"Both agreed on the role of the G20 and Brics in defending multilateralism," the statement said.

Lula spoke highly of China's efforts to uphold multilateralism and safeguard free trade rules, as well as its responsible role in international affairs.

The two leaders also "committed to expanding the scope of cooperation in sectors such as health, oil and gas, digital economy and satellites", the statement added.

China has surpassed the United States as Brazil's largest trading partner, and two-thirds of Latin American countries have signed up to the Belt and Road infrastructure drive.

Lula conducted a five-day state visit to China in May, when he told a forum for cooperation between Beijing and Latin America that his region did not want to "start a new Cold War". (AFP/Xinhua)