President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will meet with the President of France, Jacques Chirac, this morning, May 25, at the Palácio do Planalto in Brazilian capital BrasÀlia.
The two leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation in science and technology, the fight against poverty and hunger, and the creation of mechanisms to ease access to drugs for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
They will sign agreements and a joint declaration that will be released to the press after the meeting. Later, Chirac will be the guest of honor at a lunch offered by Lula.
The French mission accompanying Chirac consists of business leaders, members of parliament and representatives of research centers and the academic community.
Cabinet members are also present: ministers of Foreign Affairs, Philippe Douste-Blazy; Defense, Michèle Alliot-Marie; Economy, Finances and Industry, Thierry Breton; Education, Gilles de Robien; and the delegate for Industry, François Loos.
Chirac, will also visit the Brazilian Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal) (STF) this morning where he will meet the Chief Justice, Ellen Gracie Northfleet. In the afternoon he will visit the Senate where he will meet the president of the upper house, Renan Calheiros.
Tomorrow Chirac will leave Brasilia on his way to Santiago, Chile.
ABr