China's foreign ministry on Monday congratulated Luis Inacio Lula da Silva for his win in Brazil's presidential election.
Relations between China and Brazil, two of the world's largest developing countries, worsened under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has not conceded the election yet.
Leftist Lula, previously a two-term president, lead Brazil into the first BRICS grouping in 2009, initially made up of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, before South Africa joined in 2010.
Read more: Beijing blasts US report that claimed Covid was leaked from China lab: ‘Smear’
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Monday that China is willing to work with Lula to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Brazil to a new level.
"China sincerely congratulates Mr. Lula on his re-election as President of Brazil and wishes Brazil new achievements in its nation-building endeavors," Zhao told a regular news briefing.