Brasília, March 9, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (8), the president of the Senate, José Sarney (PMDB-AP), received the Prime Minister of Portugal, José Manuel Durão da Silva, who is visiting Brazil at the request of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to take part in the 7th Brazil-Portugal Summit. At the encounter, the Portuguese Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the relationship between Brazil and Portugal and recalled that Brazilian entrepreneurs should take advantage of Portugal as a means of entry to Europe and intensify trade with the countries of that continent.

Durão also praised the role played by ex-President Sarney in deepening the relations between Brazil and Portugal. (DAS)