Jordan and Brazil on Thursday signed 11 deals to enhance economic, cultural and political cooperation between the two countries.

The agreements were concluded during a visit by His Majesty King Abdullah to Brasilia in the last leg of a Latin American tour, where he and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed means to activate cooperation, especially in the economic field.

The King met first one-on-one with Lula da Silva before an expanded meeting between officials from both sides.

His Majesty said there is a huge potential for stronger strategic ties between the two countries.

The two leaders later attended the signing of the agreements, which covered cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, science and technology, tourism, education and culture, among others.

King Abdullah underlined prospects of obtaining Brazilian assistance in oil shale extraction as an alternative source of energy for Jordan, which has vast deposits of this resource.

He also highlighted the significance of the Arab community in Brazil, whose population stands at around 12 million and their role in achieving better ties between the Middle East and Latin America.

In remarks at a lunch banquet the president held in honour of the King, Her Majesty Queen Rania and the accompanying delegation, His Majesty said: “Our countries can progress on the path forward... by forging partnerships to build a better future”.

“Jordan has been a consistent advocate for Middle East development and reform, including economic integration. And beyond the Middle East, we have worked to create a worldwide network of economic partners and friends of peace. We look to Brazil as a leader and model of progress.”

The King voiced appreciation for Brazil, which hosted three years ago the first Arab-South American summit, for the support it extended to Jordan in its cooperation with MERCOSUR, a regional trade agreement between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Kingdom has signed a framework agreement with the bloc, whose total GDP constitutes 75 per cent of that of the entire continent.

King Abdullah also highlighted Brazil's stand as a “long-time supporter of justice for Palestinians, and you have taken an active role both in responding to the humanitarian crisis and in supporting a two-state settlement” of the Mideast conflict.

In a joint communiqué following the King's meeting with Lula da Silva, the two sides expressed their commitment to strengthening the relations between the two countries in all spheres.

They also stressed the importance of boosting South-South cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy and social development.

King Abdullah and the Brazilian president also expressed commitment to taking all the necessary measures to increase trade exchange volume between the two countries, open new channels of economic cooperation and encourage the two countries' private sectors to set up joint ventures.

During last year, Brazil's exports to Jordan totalled around $232 million while Jordan's exports to Brazil were worth a little over $7 million.

During their talks, the two leaders reviewed the present international financial crisis and its adverse effects on the global economy, stressing the need for cooperation among world countries to face the crisis fallout.

On the situation in Iraq, the two sides expressed their support for the efforts exerted to achieve national reconciliation and foster security and stability there, with the participation of all the segments of the society.

King Abdullah and Lula da Silva also emphasised the importance of working to eliminate cultural misunderstanding in the world by promoting inter-cultural dialogue.

Also Thursday, the King met separately with Brazilian Lower House Speaker Arlindo Chinaglia and President of Brazil's Federal Senate Garibaldi Alves Filho.

Talks focused on the latest developments in the Middle East and means to boost cooperation between the two countries, especially at the parliamentary level.

In an interview with the Brazilian TV channel Globo TV, the King addressed the Middle East peace process and challenges facing the region.

He said people are waiting to see what will happen in terms of the political developments in Israel and the outcome of the US presidential election. He reiterated that the Palestinian problem will remain the core issue for Jordan.

He said the Israelis have to decide whether they believe in the two-state solution or they want to maintain the fortress mentality. It is a major challenge for the international community to encourage Israel to move forward towards the two-state solution, he told the station.