Fukuda intends to boost economic ties with Brazil, Mexico

TOYAKO, Japan, July 10 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday expressed Japan's intention of enhancing dialogue with Brazil to boost economic relations as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for revitalizing economic ties, Japanese officials said.

Fukuda was quoted as telling the Brazilian president in their meeting that it is necessary to ''develop opportunities'' to discuss economic relations betweenthe two nations, the officials said.

While noting that economic relations with Japan should be more dynamic, the Brazilian leader called for enhancing bilateral ties in such fields as energy,steel, semiconductors and food, they said.

Fukuda responded that the two nations can promote cooperation in such fields as the development of cellulose biofuels, which are made from nonfood plantmaterials, they said.

In separate talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, Fukuda said that Japan will cooperate with Mexico's efforts to develop energy-savingtechnologies to address climate change, the officials said.

Fukuda said Japan intends to send experts on energy-saving technologies toMexico, they said.

Earlier in the day, Fukuda met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and told the Indian leader Tokyo wants to accelerate talks to conclude a bilateralfree trade agreement, the officials said.

Singh said that there are people strongly supporting an FTA in India's businesscommunity, they said.

==Kyodo