Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Beninese counterpart Thomas Boni Yayi Wednesday signed a series of letters of intent to strengthen cooperation in biofuel and political consultation between the two countries.
Under the biofuel agreement, Brazil and Benin agreed to work together to produce, use and commercialize fuels made from crops, and to offer support to each other.
The two nations will also establish a political consultation mechanism. Under the mechanism, Brazil and Benin will hold regular contacts to develop bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, society, culture, science and technology, as well as regional issues.
In his speech, President Lula said fuels like ethanol and bio-diesel will give more countries the chance to become involved in energy production and serve as a tool to promote development.
President Yayi described Lula as "a friend" of Africa and recalled the fact he had surpassed previous Brazilian leaders in the number of African countries visited. Lula has traveled to 17 nations on the continent, paying a visit to Benin in February 2006.
On Thursday, the Beninese president will travel to Sao Paulo, where he will visit an ethanol plant and meet entrepreneurs. On Friday, he will visit Salvador, in northeastern Brazil, where there are many descendants of slaves brought from Benin during the colonial and imperial period.
Source: Xinhua
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