Chinese President Hu Jintao and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff signed a joint communique on Tuesday, pledging to diversify bilateral trade and highlighting their "broad consensus" on global governance.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2011. [Xinhua photo]

Two countries also vowed to enhance their strategic partnership as Rousseff began her debut presidential trip outside Latin America on Tuesday.

After two-hour-long talks in the Great Hall of People in Beijing, Hu and Rousseff witnessed the signing ceremony of eight cooperative agreements in areas like defense, technology and sports, according to a Xinhua report.

Two countries also announced that they have inked 13 economic deals during Rousseff's visit, her first state visit to China since she took office in January, which include a purchase order for 35 Brazil's Embraer 190 commercial jets.

The purchase will result in State-owned China Southern Airlines getting 20 of the planes and Hebei Airlines, a regional carrier based in northern China, getting 15. The aircraft can seat 98 to 114 people.

About 80 Embraer planes are currently in operation in China, according to China Daily.

Embraer is the third largest global airplane manufacturer behind Boeing and Airbus. It was also set to sign an agreement with the State-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China to manufacture the firm's Legacy 600 business jet, Brazilian officials told AFP.

Brazil's national electric company, Eletrobras, and state-run energy giant Petrobras also signed deals with their Chinese partners.

Rousseff arrived in Beijing Monday kicking off a six-day state visit to China. During the visit, she will also hold talks with top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Rousseff and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan will attend a seminar between Chinese and Brazilian entrepreneurs.

On April 14, she will attend the third BRICS summit, grouping leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia, both slated for mid-April in China's southern island province of Hainan.

In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua before she travelled to China, Rousseff emphasized Brazil's interest in deepening the existing strategic partnership between Brazil and China.

China was Brazil's biggest trade partner in 2009, with bilateral trade exceeding US$56 billion in 2010. That year, China also became Brazil's largest investor.