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Skriven 2007-03-31 23:31:44 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0703311) for Sat, 2007 Mar 31
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Joint Statement on the Occasion of the Visit by President Luiz In cio Lula
da Silva to Camp David
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary March 31, 2007

Joint Statement on the Occasion of the Visit by President Luiz In cio Lula
da Silva to Camp David

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Joint Statement on the Occasion of the Visit by President Luiz In cio Lula
da Silva to Camp David

Presidents Luiz In cio Lula da Silva and George W. Bush resolved to
continue deepening the strategic dialogue between Brazil and the United
States, as reflected in the determination to increase bilateral cooperation
based on the shared values of democracy, human rights, cultural diversity,
trade liberalization, multilateralism, environmental protection, defense of
international peace and security, and promotion of development with social
justice.

The Presidents welcomed the strengthening of the partnership between the
two countries in the area of renewable energy with the Memorandum of
Understanding to Advance Cooperation on Biofuels, signed in S o Paulo on
March 9, 2007. The Presidents noted with satisfaction the results of the
meeting on implementation of the Memorandum, held in Washington on March
29. They expressed their governments' intention to arrange for Brazilian
scientists and researchers to visit state-of-the-art biofuels research
laboratories in the United States, as well as visits to Brazil by senior
officials of the United States Departments of Energy, State, and
Agriculture in Spring 2007. The United States and Brazil recognized the
support of institutions including the IDB, the United Nations Foundation,
and the Organization of American States. Brazil and the United States plan
to begin efforts to work together, initially, with Haiti, the Dominican
Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, and El Salvador, and to pursue consultations
with other countries interested in participating in the cooperation
program.

The Presidents noted with satisfaction the growth of bilateral trade and
investments between the United States and Brazil. They reaffirmed their
intention to use the ongoing "Commercial Dialogue" to seek ways to promote
innovation and increase trade opportunities, particularly for small- and
medium-sized enterprises, as well as to protect intellectual property
rights. The Heads of State noted the formation of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum
to engage directly with leaders in the business community to discuss
economic and trade-related topics. They applauded plans by United States
Council on Competitiveness and Brazilian Competitiveness Movement to stage
an "Innovation Summit" in Brasilia in July 2007 to support greater
competitiveness and innovation. The Presidents agreed to direct their
governments to explore initiatives in the area of tourism, including
examining the possibility of increasing flights between Brazil and the
United States, with particular attention to Northeast Brazil.

The Presidents applauded the March 20, 2007 signing in Bras lia of an
Agreement for the Exchange of Information Relating to Taxes. The Presidents
expressed hope that the signing of this Agreement will be the first step
toward cooperation between the Brazilian Federal Revenue Secretariat and
the Internal Revenue Service. They pledged to redouble ongoing work toward
the conclusion of an agreement on double taxation.

The Presidents noted with satisfaction the progress achieved since their
November 2005 meeting in Bras lia, including the first-ever convening of
the bilateral Joint Commission on Science and Technology on July 21, 2006;
and the launch of a Commercial Dialogue between the Brazilian Ministry of
Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade and the U.S. Department of
Commerce.

The Presidents welcomed the strengthened partnership in education through
the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding in this area. They applauded
the immediate start-up of its implementation with the launch of a program
targeting increased professional and technological education in Brazil and
bilateral exchange in an effort to include increasing numbers of young
people and adults in the labor market.

The Presidents expressed their support for cooperation with African
countries. They applauded the trilateral cooperation to strengthen the
Legislative Branch of Guinea-Bissau, as established in the March 30
Memorandum of Understanding. The Presidents also discussed the possible
broadening of such cooperative efforts to include other interested African
countries. The two Presidents announced a specific commitment to cooperate
on a plan to eradicate malaria in Sao Tome and Principe. They also agreed
to explore cooperation in combating malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected
diseases, especially in Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa such as
Angola and Mozambique, and to confront the threat of avian flu, building on
their cooperation on HIV/AIDS in Mozambique and Angola.

The Presidents recognized that the success of international action in Haiti
depends on simultaneous activities to achieve security, political
reconciliation, and socioeconomic development. They intend to act within
the United Nations framework to increase multilateral cooperation in Haiti
and welcomed efforts to identify areas of mutual cooperation in support of
stability and economic development in Cite Soleil. They applauded the
success of efforts by Brazil and the United States, in cooperation with
other countries in the region, to secure United Nations Security Council
renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
(MINUSTAH) last February.

The Presidents sought to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of
public safety, particularly in combating organized crime, drug trafficking,
and money laundering, and in preventing terrorism and terrorism financing,
with emphasis on information sharing between intelligence units and on the
establishment of mechanisms for recovering assets resulting from
transnational crimes.

The Heads of State reaffirmed global economic growth and development as the
main objectives of the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
They underscored the importance of continuing to constructively engage
negotiators, which facilitated the resumption of the negotiations. The
Presidents pledged to work together toward a successful conclusion, taking
advantage of the window of opportunity opened in 2007. They emphasized that
the agreement should be ambitious and balanced, with a view to both an
appreciable increase in market access and in global trade flows, and a
significant reduction in global poverty rates.

The Presidents reaffirmed the importance of reform of the United Nations to
make the organization better able to deal with today's complex
international agenda. They further reaffirmed their commitment to
coordinate closely on the issue of Security Council reform.

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