America News Agency

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro.

Lula said the meeting was held as part of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Philippines. He said Philippine Foreign Secretary Lazaro invited him to attend the ASEAN Summit to be held on November 11-12 under the Philippines' chairmanship, and expressed his expectations for expanding and diversifying trade between the two countries.

Noting that the Philippines is the world's largest market for Brazilian pork, Lula reiterated Brazil's interest in developing defense relations. He also highlighted the potential for cooperation between the two countries on semiconductors, one of the Philippines' major export products.

Lula said, “I emphasized our intention to expand and diversify bilateral trade.” He also expressed Brazil's interest in developing relations in the defense sector and highlighted the potential for cooperation on semiconductors.