Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Wednesday received the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife at the start of their two-day working visit to Jordan.
King Abdullah and the Brazilian president held a one-on-one meeting that was followed by expanded talks attended by Prime Minister Samir Rifai and several other senior Jordanian and Brazilian officials.
During the talks that focused on mechanisms to develop economic relations between the two countries King Abdullah voiced satisfaction over the level of bilateral ties.
In October 2008, King Abdullah paid a visit to Brazil during which the two countries signed 11 agreements and memoranda of understanding that covered cooperation in the fields of economy, tourism, education, culture, and science and technology.
At the meeting, King Abdullah discussed with President Lula, first Brazilian president to visit Jordan, means to enhance cooperation in the fields of alternative energy, industry, water and agriculture.
The Brazilian leader expressed his country's interest in taking practical steps to develop sustainable economic cooperation with the Kingdom, establish joint projects and build economic partnerships.
Noting that Jordan values the growing political and economic role of Brazil, King Abdullah stressed the Kingdom's appreciation for Brazilian policies to activate Jordanian-Brazilian cooperation and achieve just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
Addressing regional issues, the two leaders discussed means to overcome obstacles impeding progress towards resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.
The two leaders also underlined the importance of the Jordanian-Brazilian Economic Forum, which will be held on Thursday with the participation of 50 Brazilian and 500 Jordanian businessmen. The forum will provide an opportunity for the two sides to discuss the possibility of establishing joint investment projects.
King Abdullah and President Lula agreed to work intensively to wrap up talks towards the signing of a free trade agreement between Jordan and the Mercosur trade bloc, which comprises several Latin American countries, including Brazil.
Established in 1991, the Southern Common Market seeks to encourage free trade with other world countries.
Industry and Trade Minister Amer Hadidi underlined the importance of joint business forum, saying it is in line with the Kingdom's efforts to implement mega-projects in the fields of energy and water, which require funds and partnerships with foreign investors.
For his part, Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Miguel Jorge said that there are broad prospects for trade cooperation between Jordan and Brazil based on a set of agreements that were signed between the two countries in 2008.
Later Wednesday, King Abdullah and Queen Rania hosted a dinner banquet in honour of the Brazilian president, his wife, Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva and the accompanying delegation.
Several members of the Royal family, and senior officials and officers attended the banquet.