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Brazilian president promotes bio-fuels, presses for WTO agreement |
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08:21, July 06, 2007 |
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday promoted the opening of markets for bio- fuels, arguing that they can be a development tool.
"Bio-fuels will make nations more independent," Lula told reporters in Brussels after talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Today, the world relies on just 20 countries for oil production, said Lula. With bio-fuels, more than 100 countries will be able to be energy producers.
"So we will have a much better distribution of opportunities for the rest of the world," he said.
On concerns that bio-fuels are not environmentally and socially sustainable, Lula said there should be no dispute between food production and fuel production, nor between environment and fuel production.
He said his country, a world leader in bio-fuels production, is very close to agreement with the European Union on standards.
Barroso said bio-fuels sustainablility is important for Europe in environment and social point of view. Lula has assured Europe that his country is committed to this issue, he said.
"Both Brazil and Europe want a global market for bio-fuels," said Barroso. The two sides have agreed to work together to see whether there is convergence in creating standards, he added.
Both men delivered speeches at an international bio-fuels conference earlier in the day in Brussels. The conference was hosted by the European Commission.
Lula on Thursday also pressed for agreement on the Doha round of negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"I am very optimistic, even more optimistic due to the fact that the EU is willing to have an in-depth discussion about bio- fuels," said Lula.
"Today we have such a positive environment in the understanding that we have to move forward."
Barroso said the EU is committed to saving the Doha round as it is a development agenda.
The Doha round, launched in 2001, was suspended a year ago after six key WTO members -- the United States, the EU, Australia, Japan,Brazil and India -- failed to bridge their long-term differences on agricultural subsidies and market access.
Source: Xinhua
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