Jonathan Hosts President Dilma Rousseff

The President of Brazil; Dilma Rousseff today paid a state visit to Nigeria at the invitation of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The two presidents held talks on promoting and strengthening the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Brazil and provided strategic guidance and direction at the bilateral talks to further enhance their ties and friendship.

The two presidents also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and reached common understanding.

Highlight of the visit was the signing of a MoU establishing a mechanism for strategic dialogue that will set up a bi-national commission to fashion out the areas the two countries will be impacting on each other.

The areas to be covered in the MoU include agriculture and food security, petroleum, power, biofuel, trade and investment, mining, education, infrastructure, finance and culture.

At the forecourt of the presidential villa, President Dima Rouseff was accorded full reception as she took time to inspect the guards; both presidents were introduced to cabinet ministers on both sides before they all headed into the president’s office for bilateral talks that lasted for about two hours.

President Jonathan observed that the two countries share a lot in common hence the need to continue to collaborate as both countries can use the sectors to leverage on their economies as well as create jobs for Nigeria and Brazilian men and women..

The Brazilian president on her part said that Brazil will welcome Nigeria with open hands especially as the World Cup approaches. She said she is interested in ensuring that both countries are well positioned in the international scene.

Both presidents called for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council to make it more democratic and reflective of the changes in the international architecture.