Presidents of Brazil and Chile agreed on Tuesday to strengthen a strategic alliance and boost bilateral trade and cooperation.

In a joint communique entitled "An Alliance Renewed," Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chile's Michelle Bachelete promised to jointly work for the integration of South America.

Both Brazil and Chile support the strengthening of multilateralism in response to an unequal globalization and new menaces, said Lula.

Lula thanked the Chilean government for its backing of Brazil's bid to win a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

According to Lula, Brazilian-Chilean bilateral trade reached 5.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, and Chile's business people invested 4 billion U.S. dollars in Brazil.

Lula felicitated Bachelete on her January election victory, noting that she was the first woman president in the Chilean history.

Bachelete, for her part, lauded the Brazilian president's initiatives in combating poverty.

In the morning, Bachelete received a Doctorate for Honor's Cause from the University of Brasilia for her efforts in defending human rights.

The two presidents also signed three deals covering the areas of energy and mines, technical cooperation in environmental protection and the residential rights for citizens of both countries.

They also exchanged information about water resources, assessment of urban environment and the protection of marine environment and biodiversity.

Source: Xinhua