Brasília, 4/11/2006 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Today the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, will begin an official state visit to Brazil. During her visit Brazil and Chile will sign agreements on environmental protection, mining and energy and the concession of temporary residency papers.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the Bachelet visit, just a month after she took office, is a sign of the "excellent relations and traditional friendship between the two countries."

During a private meeting at the Palácio do Planalto this morning with president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the two heads of state will discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern. Both countries are members of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah), the initiative against Hunger and Poverty in the South American Community and the G-20.

Bilateral trade in 2005 was US$5.31 billion, with a surpus of US$1.9 for Brazil. Chile is the seventh biggest importer of Brazilian goods.

Translation: Allen Bennett