BRASILIA, July 17 -- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Thursday greeted visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping, and underscored the positive results and promising future of bilateral ties.

At a ceremony here at the presidential Palace of Planalto, Rousseff said the four decades of diplomatic ties between the two countries, which mark the 40th anniversary next month, "could not have been more positive, and the future could not be more promising."

"China is our leading trade partner. Brazil is the leading destination for Chinese investment in Latin America," noted Rousseff, adding that it shows the Asian giant is "a great ally of Brazilian development."

The Brazilian president touched upon the many areas in which the two countries cooperate, such as energy, with Chinese companies participating in oil exploration off Brazil's Atlantic coast, and banking, with the Bank of Brazil opening its first branch in China, and three Chinese banks operating in the South American country.

Rousseff presented Xi with investment opportunities in the country's ports, airports, highways and railroads, especially a transcontinental rail line designed to connect Brazil with neighboring Peru's Pacific coast, making it easier for Brazilian goods to reach the Chinese market.

Rousseff said Brazil, which will be hosting the 2016 Olympic Games, backs China's bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2022.

"We welcome the opportunity to discuss China and Brazil's larger role in leading global affairs, and we want to expand bilateral cooperation in such forums as the G20, the BRICS and the BASIC," said Rousseff, referring to the various blocs of major economies, emerging and newly industrialized countries.

Rousseff also highlighted the importance of the agreements reached at the just concluded 6th BRICS Summit, held in Fortaleza, Brazil, including the creation of the New Development Bank (NDB) and emergency reserve fund, as the initial steps towards a "more just and inclusive" world order.

As part of their bilateral summit Thursday, Brazil and China signed some 54 public and private sector agreements in a range of areas.