Ana Paula Marra
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - Last night president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, for a working dinner at the Granja do Torto (a presidential retreat just outside Brasilia).

According to the Palacio do Planalto, the two presidents were scheduled to discuss bilateral issues of mutual interest at the regional, as well as the international level. "Lula and Chavez will certainly discuss the status of a series of cooperation agreements between the two governments and corporations in their respective countries. Emphasis will be on the areas of petroleum and gas, petrochemicals, the production of ethanol and biodiesel, coal mining and infrastructure projects," said a note from the press secretariat.

In the note the press secretariat added that Lula will once again invite Hugo Chavez to the South American Community of Nations Summit on September 29 and 30 in Brasilia.

Translator: Allen Bennett