India, Brazil decide to explore ways to boost cooperation

NEW DELHI: Seeking to enhance ties, India and Brazil have decided to explore ways to boost cooperation in diverse areas of defence, cyber security, trade and commerce.

In their talks in Brasilia, the two sides discussed the entire gamut of relations covering bilateral, regional and multilateral issues if mutual interests.

"Directions given by President Dilma Rousseff and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral and multilateral cooperation at the recently-concluded BRICS summit at Ufa were noted for implementation on a priority basis.

"Key areas of cooperation included inter alia trade and commerce, agriculture, environment, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, space, defence, traditional medicine, education, culture, and cyber security," the External Affairs Ministry said here sharing details of the bilateral talks held on July 20.

It said both sides agreed to coordinate their efforts within G-4 for UN Security Council reform and decided to work closely together in BASIC for Climate Change, and to re-vitalise IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa forum).

The Indian side was led by R Swaminathan, Secretary General Americas as well as Consular, Passport and Visa.

Swaminathan also met Mauro Vieira, Minister of External Relations of Brazil and requested him to visit India for the next Joint Commission meeting at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The MEA said the instruments of ratification of the Extradition Treaty between India and Brazil were exchanged during Swaminathan's meeting with Carlos Alberto Simas Magalhaes, Under Secretary General For Brazilian Communities overseas.