Brasília - Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, will hold a joint news conference with the Foreign Minster of Australia, Alexander Downer, this afternoon at the Palacio do Planalto.

Downer is scheduled to arrive in Brasilia in the morning. At that time the two ministers will have a private meeting to discuss issues of bilateral interest and then participate in a lunch offered by Amorim.

In the late afternoon, Downer will leave Brasilia and travel to São Paulo.

Translation: Allen Bennett