Cairo - After visiting Syria, Lebanon and the Arab Emirates, president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Egypt this morning.

Following a private meeting with president Hosni Mubarak, Lula declared that both countries have much in common, including the need to resolve regional conflicts. "Brazil is willing to assist in the quest for peace in the Middle East," said Lula.

In his comments to the press, Lula called Mubarak a man concerned with world peace and interested in social development.

Lula added that he was especially happy to be Egypt, a country last visited by a Brazilian head of state over 130 years ago when emperor Pedro II was there. Lula said he was convinced bilateral relations could improve in various areas, saying he expected them to improve much more in the near future than they had in the last 20 years. "We have much to offer and are interested in goods from Egypt," he said. Mubarak said he hoped for a broad increase in bilateral ties, not only in commerce, but also in culture and education.

Lula, the Pyramids and the Palestinian minister

Today Lula will visit the pyramids of Giza. He will also meet representatives of the Brazilian community in Egypt. Finally, he will meet the Palestinian minister of Foreign Relations. (AB)