Keite Camacho
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Brazil wants to strengthen its political and commercial ties with Kenya. The Kenyan chancellor, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, is in Brasília for the first meeting of the Brazil-Kenya Joint Commission.

At the opening of the meeting, in the Itamaraty Palace, the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, said that Brazilian exports to Kenya can grow beyond their current level of US$ 20 million.

He added that trade channels between the two countries need to be discovered. Other partnerships may be signed in the spheres of education, culture, technical cooperation, health, agriculture, and environment. The minister revealed that the two countries expect to sign an agreement today in the area of sports.

Another item that was discussed was the United Nations Security Council. The Kenyan chancellor declared that his country will back Brazil's bid for a permanent Council seat, if the proposal to increase the number of permanent seats emerges victorious in the reform process.

Another fruit of the negotiations approximating Kenya and Brazil is the opening of a Kenyan embassy in Brasília. This process is well advanced, according to press office of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

Translation: David Silberstein