As Trump focuses on his trade war, Brazil and China forge closer ties

Few world leaders can say they've been hugged by Xi Jinping, China's typically reserved president. Last year, an embrace between Xi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, seemed to sum up the cosy - if at times slightly awkward - relationship between China and Russia. Now Brazil's president, Luiz Inà¡cio Lula da Silva, can count himself among the hallowed few to have broken the handshake barrier with Chinese leader. Stepping off the stage after giving a speech in Beijing earlier this month, Lula shook Xi's hand, but the moment swiftly melted into something more affectionate. Xi had good reason to…