On 28 May President of Uzbekistan held talks with President of Brazil. The leaders exchanged views on issues of Uzbek-Brazilian relations, as well as regional and international problems.

Islam Karimov said that Uzbekistan was interested in comprehensive development of cooperation with this leading country in Latin America, UzA reported.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed that Brazil considered Uzbekistan one of the leading states in Central Asia and a reliable partner.

Uzbekistan and Brazil occupy an important place in their regions. Uzbekistan took the initiative to establish a common Central Asian market. Brazil is the most advanced and economically powerful state of the South American common market of Mercosur.

Uzbekistan initiated the creation of the zone free of nuclear weapons in Central Asia. Brazil is a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America.

Both Uzbekistan and Brazil are supporters of the reforming of the UN, increasing its role and importance in solving international problems, and support the principle of the multi-polar world.

The leaders of the two countries are unanimous in issues of prevention of such threats as terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and stand for international cooperation in the fight against them.

The two countries support each other’s proposals and initiatives on the international arena. Uzbekistan in various years supported the candidacy of Brazil in the UN bodies. In discussing issues relating to Uzbekistan at the UN, Brazil supports the position of the country.

There are good preconditions for the development of cooperation in the economic sphere. Brazil was also an agricultural country, exporting only raw materials. Now it exports coffee, soy, sugar, oranges, ore, steel, and at the same time aircrafts, vehicles, electronics, shoes, knitting products.

Brazil’s GDP (USD 1.8 trillion) is the highest in Latin America. The share of industry in the country’s GDP is around 40 percent, and in agriculture does not exceed 10 percent.

In the 1990s, Brazil implemented economic reforms, developed private sector, created a favorable investment climate, revised monetary and fiscal policies, and conducted large-scale privatization. At the same time, road transport, telecommunications and urban infrastructure were developing.

In response to growing demand for energy in recent years, Brazil started producing and exporting ethanol. Thus, along with the oil and gas, and oil and chemical industries, Brazil has an extensive experience in production of alternative energy sources.

As a result of application of advanced technologies in agriculture, Brazil ranks first in the world in growing sugar cane and oranges. 35 percent of coffee produced in the world is made in this country.

Analyzing the progress Uzbekistan has made during the years of independence, and the priority direction in implementation of reforms, one can find a lot in common with Brazil. Both countries rose from raw material exporting countries to exporters of finished products. From year to year, the share of industrial production increases in the exports of the two countries.

Uzbekistan and Brazil have a great potential for cooperation in the aircraft industry, mechanical engineering, petrochemical industry, textile and leather industry. In addition, there are good opportunities for cooperation in areas like agro-processing, tourism, transportation, geological exploration and production of construction materials.

Uzbekistan could become a bridge for Brazil, not only with the Central Asian states, but also with many CIS countries. A good example is the transcontinental intermodal logistics center that is being built in the city of Navoi. The only such center in the CIS is being created in cooperation with the Republic of Korea.

South Korea is a strategic partner of both Uzbekistan and Brazil. From this perspective, it seems logical that the Uzbek-Korean summit was held in Tashkent in early May and the Uzbek-Brazilian summit is being held now in Brazil.

Islam Karimov and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva comprehensively discussed the Uzbek-Brazilian relations. The presidents exchanged views on strengthening security in Central Asia, the situation in Afghanistan, and the processes ongoing in Latin America. The leaders also discussed the global financial and economic crisis, and the ways to reduce its impact and consequences.

After the negotiations, the Joint Declaration between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Federative Republic of Brazil was adopted.

The government of Uzbekistan and the government of Brazil signed agreements on technical cooperation, economic and trade cooperation, cultural cooperation, cooperation in agriculture, visa-free entry for diplomatic passport holders and a memorandum on cooperation in tourism. A number of bilateral cooperation documents were signed between the ministries and departments of the two countries.

The official visit of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to the Federal Republic of Brazil will complete on 29 May.