Beijing, June 2 - The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira in Beijing, where they agreed to deepen cooperation between the two countries, safeguard global peace and stability, and defend the rights and interests of developing countries.

The ministry said in a statement that Wang and Vieira held a "strategic dialogue" on Monday.

As key members of the BRICS group of developing countries, China and Brazil are seeking to establish a multipolar world order, in an attempt to reduce the United States' dominance over global financial and political institutions.

This meeting came after Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the United States' decision to designate two Brazilian drug cartels as terrorist organizations, calling the move an unwarranted interference in his country's internal affairs. The US announcement followed pressure exerted on Washington by the sons of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.

In a meeting with Trump last week in Washington, Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who is preparing to run for president with his father's blessing, said he had asked the United States to designate the two gangs as terrorist organizations.

Wang said that China "supports Brazil in safeguarding its national sovereignty, preserving its independence, and achieving further development." The Foreign Ministry statement did not directly address the US designation.

The statement added that Wang and Vieira "conducted comprehensive and in-depth strategic consultations on international and regional issues of concern to both sides and reached a broad consensus."

While Brazil faces increasing pressure from Washington to limit its ties with Beijing, the two countries have actively cooperated on global security issues, including diplomatic efforts regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

China is Brazil's largest trading partner. Brazil, in turn, is a major supplier of soybeans, beef, and iron ore to China.