MFA Press Statement: Prime Minister Lee's Meetings in Brasilia, 25 November 2008

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in Brasilia during his official visit to Brazil. Both leaders exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including the international financial crisis, Brazil's experience in renewable energy, and the links between ASEAN and Mercosur. They also expressed their desire to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, science and technology, biofuels, and infrastructure development. President Lula accepted Prime Minister Lee's invitation to visit Singapore in 2009.

Prime Minister Lee visited the Brazilian National Congress where he met, among others, Mr Garibaldi Alves Filho, President of the Federal Senate of Brazil and Mr Arlindo Chinaglia, Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies.

Prime Minister Lee and President Lula witnessed the signing of the following agreements between Brazil and Singapore: the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA); the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Establishing the Joint Committee on Promoting Trade and Investment; and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Science and Technology Cooperation.

The ASA supersedes the one signed in 1997. The new ASA liberalises traffic rights between Singapore and Brazil and will open up more flights between the two countries. Airlines from both countries can now operate a total of 28 weekly passenger flights and 14 weekly cargo flights between Singapore and Brazil, compared to only 6 weekly flights (either passenger or cargo) under the previous ASA.

The MOU between the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore and the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil will lead to the establishment of a Joint Commitee for government-to-government discussions on improving the regulatory environment for business and investment between the two countries.

The MOU on Science and Technology Cooperation will facilitate the implementation of joint projects and programmes between Singaporean and Brazilian research institutes in areas of mutual interest, in particular on biotechnology, disease control, microbiology, nanotechnology and renewable energy. The MOU will also facilitate the exchange of students, scientists, technical and other experts. To kick off collaboration, Singapore's National Environment Agency and Brazil's Ministry of Health will be exploring a joint research project on dengue fever.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
26 NOVEMBER 2008