Russian, Brazilian foreign ministers to discuss cooperation within

MOSCOW, September 4 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov on Sunday is expected to receive in Moscow his Brazilian
counterpart, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota.
The two men will meet at the Foreign Ministry's House of Receptions on
Spiridonovka Street.
In the course of the meeting, Lavrov and Patriota are supposed to take
a look at international problems and cooperation between Russia and Brazil
in the format of BRICS - an informal group of countries made of up Brazil,
Russia, India, China, and the South-African Republic.
"Lavrov and Patriota will exchange opinion on how to build up the role
of the UN in international affairs, as well as on the problems of
nonproliferation and counteraction to challenges and threats," Alexander
Lukashevich, an official spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said.
He stressed fruitful enough cooperation between the two countries at
the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council, saying the Sunday
meeting furnishes the two ministers with an opportunity to verify and
coordinate their positions on contacts on these formats once again.
No less important is the two countries' joint work in BRICS - a format
that is getting more and more attention on the part of the international
community.
According to Lukashevich, Lavrov and Patriota are going to give
special attention to developments in the Middle East, North Africa and
other hotbeds of tensions.
The situation on the international financial markets is growing quite
hot as well, and that is why the Russian and Brazilian sides have singled
it out as a special focal point.
Brazilian Foreign Ministry officials says in the meantime Lavrov and
Patriota will very likely concentrate on the power engineering sector, oil
and gas industry, agricultural technologies, and joint projects in space
exploration.
They recall that Brazil is Russia's largest trade partner among the
South American countries.
Experts say bilateral trade has reached $ 6 billion since the
beginning of the year. The most traditional items of Brazilian exports to
Russia are raw sugar, tobacco, coffee, beef, pork, and poultry. On the
Russian side, the bulk of exports consist of mineral fertilizers and
diesel fuel.
Russia and Brazil launched a project five years ago, under which they
share with each other the assets of national pride - the achievements of
the world's most prestigious schools of ballet and soccer football.
The results of studies that the young people on either side are taking
under the guidance of highly expert teachers and coaches will come into
the zone of Lavrov and Patriota's attention, too.
In addition, the Brazilians have been saying of late they are highly
interested in stepping up the contacts between the two countries'
scientific and research quarters.