Renata Giraldi and Yara Aquino      Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília – Although president Dilma Rousseff is scheduled to visit every continent this year, Brasilia’s main international concern is the Rio+20 Conference that will take place in Rio de Janeiro between May 28 and June 6. No less than 100 heads of state and government are expected. Rio+20 is set to be a major discussion of environmental protection, sustainable development and the green economy with the objective of defining new worldwide standards.

However, before (and after) Rio+20, Brazilian diplomacy will be busy. In January, Dilma is expected to accompany the minister of Finance to the World Economic Summit in Davos, between January 25 and 29.

In March, president Dilma will visit the United States. Barack Obama and his family were in Brazil in 2010, and this is a return trip.

Dilma is scheduled to participate in the South American-Africa Summit (“ASA”) on the 15^th and 16^th of May in Malabo, Equatorial Guine. She has stated a desire to expand relations with African nations, especially in the northern region of the continent.

In June, Dilma will attend a Mercosur summit in Buenos Aires. Together with Cristina Kirchner of Argentina, Fernando Lugo of Paraguay and José Pepe Mujica of Uruguay, she will examine proposals for further multilateral partnerships in the region.

A visit to England for the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games is on the table. Brazil will be the next host of the games in 2016.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

With reporting by Luciene Lima

Link - Agenda internacional de Dilma deve conciliar Rio+20 com visitas aos EUA e África e reuniões do Mercosul