Brasília, April 28, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met today in the Planalto Palace, in Brasília, with the Gabonese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Ping. The Minister is in Brazil to promote the intensification of political, commercial, and cultural ties between the two countries. The Chancellor handed President Lula a letter from the President of Gabon, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, inviting the Brazilian President to visit Gabon.

Minister Ping's visit reinforces the Brazilian government's current priority on strengthening its relations with the African continent. The Chancellor is expected to be elected president of the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly, which will begin in September.

Translator: David Silberstein