BEIJING/BRASILIA: China and Brazil pledged on Tuesday (May 13) to defend free trade and multilateralism as the two countries signed 20 agreements in Beijing to strengthen their ties amid global trade uncertainties. The two countries should firmly oppose unilateralism, protectionism and "acts of bullying" , Chinese President Xi Jinping told Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. Lula said the two countries' relations had "never been more necessary"