Brasília, 3/23/2004 (Agência Brasil) - The managing director of the World Bank, Mamphele Ramphele, who is visiting Brazil, met with president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva yesterday to discuss a joint effort that will go beyond financial resources in promoting economic growth. "Investments are fundamental," said Ramphele, but he explained that the World Bank and Brazil intends to join forces in a broader partnership that will include stepping up knowledge exchange and technical assistance in various areas, including infrastructure. According to Ramphele, the bank has scheduled loans totalling US$2 billion over the next few years for Brazil.

During his conversations with Lula, Ramphele worked out details on Brazilian participation at the World Conference on Poverty Reduction in Shanghai, China, between May 25 and 27. Ramphele said Lula will be one of the star attractions at the event. "Lula is a developing nation leader," he said, adding that his participation is part of the effort to get other nations to follow the Brazilian example and deal directly with the problem of hunger. (translator: Allen Bennett)