The Hindu : Front Page : India, Brazil to elevate relations to strategic partnership

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006
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Front Page

India, Brazil to elevate relations to strategic partnership

N. Ravi

Gigantic step in increased cooperation, says President Lula

PHOTO: PTI

PRE-SUMMIT PARLEYS: Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a welcoming ceremony at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia on Tuesday. Dr. Singh invited Mr. Lula da Silva to visit India, which he accepted.

Brasilia: In a move that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described as a "gigantic step" after his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India and Brazil concluded a series of agreements on trade, technology and agriculture and agreed to elevate their relations to the level of a strategic partnership.

Describing his visit to Brazil, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 38 years, as a "voyage of discovery," the Prime Minister expressed himself to be "very satisfied" with the discussions he had with Mr. Lula.

Three broad areas

The meeting itself marked the intensification of relations in three broad areas: links in the commercial, scientific and agricultural sectors; the start of a strategic dialogue; and a closer partnership in the international forums including the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation.

In the bilateral sphere, agreements were signed on scientific and technological cooperation, air services, human settlements, plant health protection, cultural festivals, technical standards, oil exploration and construction. A popular element was added to the list when on a suggestion by Dr. Singh Mr. Lula agreed to send Brazilian football coaches to train Indian players.

Noting the upsurge of Indian investment flows into Brazil including by Tata Consultancy Services, Ranbaxy and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, the Prime Minister invited Brazil to partake of India's success in information technology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

Bilateral dialogue

An important outcome of the meeting was the decision to start a bilateral strategic dialogue on regional and global issues such as energy security and the international security situation including terrorism. National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan would represent the Indian side in the dialogue with his counterparts in the Brazilian Government.

Laying out the framework for the dialogue, Dr. Singh and Mr. Lula in their joint communiqué noted that international terrorism was one of the most serious threats to peace and reaffirmed their support to measures for combating terrorism outlined in the U.N. Security Council resolutions and in conformity with the principles of the U.N. Charter and international law and conventions.

The third strand in the newly strengthened relations would be represented by a closer coordination in international forums such as the World Trade Organisation. Both Mr. Lula and Dr. Singh noted in their remarks after the meeting that both were united in their desire for a successful conclusion of the Doha round of trade negotiations that were deadlocked mainly over the question of agricultural subsidies and tariffs. The other major area of cooperation would be in the reform of the U.N., in particular the expansion of the Security Council. India and Brazil are both claimants for permanent membership of the Council and decided to work together in the framework of the G4 along with Japan and Germany.

Overall, the two leaders expressed their confidence that political will and the recognition of the immense economic advantages of cooperation would overcome the barriers of distance and the absence of historical and traditional ties to bring the two nations closer.

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