Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday the pragmatic cooperation between China and Brazil has grown despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with smooth progress in a number of major projects.

This fully reflects the strong resilience of the cooperation between China and Brazil, Wang told Brazil's new Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco Franca in a phone conversation.

Congratulating Franca on his appointment as foreign minister, Wang said China has always viewed and developed China-Brazil relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, placing Brazil in one of the priority directions for its foreign relations.

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Brazil have fought against the pandemic with solidarity and overcome the difficulties together, Wang said.

China sympathizes with Brazil and firmly supports the government's efforts to contain the pandemic and restore its economy, he continued, adding that China, within its capacity, is willing to continue vaccine cooperation with Brazil to meet its pressing need.

The two sides should promote the steady growth of bilateral trade and actively expand cooperation in 5G, digital economy, artificial intelligence and other fields. It is believed that Brazil will provide a fair and open business environment for Chinese companies operating in the country, Wang said.

Targeting no third party, China-Latin America cooperation focuses on common development and pragmatic cooperation, which meets the needs of both sides, Wang said, hoping that Brazil will play an important and active role in this regard.

For his part, Franca, who thanked Wang for his congratulation, suggested that the two countries make full use of and improve the existing communication channels and bilateral cooperation mechanisms, strengthen their strategic dialogue and keep strengthening their relations.

Thanking China for its selfless help to Brazil since the outbreak of the pandemic, Franca said China is an important producer of pharmaceutical raw materials in the world.

Noting Brazil urgently needs vaccines and medical supplies in the fight against the pandemic, Franca said his country hopes for continuous strong support from China.

Scientific and technological cooperation is of great significance to the two countries, and Brazil is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as the digital economy and 5G, and maintain close communication with China on promoting China-Latin America cooperation, Franca added.

(With input from Xinhua)