Brazil and India Plan to Cooperate in Civilian Nuclear Power

May 22 (EIRNS)--India and Brazil are ready to add more "economic and strategic" muscle to their growing ties, a process that is likely to include civil nuclear cooperation that will be discussed during President Lula Da Silva's three-day (June3-6) visit to India early next month, India Abroad News Services (IANS) reported.

"It's one of the most important visits President Lula is making this year. We are in an important moment in our relationship," stated the Brazilian ambassador to India, Jose Vicente Pimentel. Around 100 top businessmen from Brazil will be accompanying Lula to India to underline new business relations between two trillion-dollar economies.

As India and the US continue with their difficult negotiations of a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement, President Lula's visit will provide an opportunity to India to step up its diplomacy with the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) of which Brazil is an influential member.