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“US ready for deeper relationship with Brazil”
June 1, 2013, 4:55 am

Brazil has taken contrarian positions from that of the US on core international issues like the Syrian conflict  (AP Images)

Brazil has taken contrarian positions from that of the US on core international issues like the Syrian conflict [AP]

US Vice President Joe Biden has asserted that the United States wants to boost strategic ties with Brazil.

“I hope 2013 marks the beginning of a new era in the relations between our two countries,” he said on Friday.

Biden met Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff during his three-day visit to Brazil.

“The president [Obama] wanted to make a statement of the importance that the relationship with Brazil has for us,” Biden said.

“That is why the first state visit of the second administration is to your president. We are pleased that your president has accepted the invitation.”

Rousseff will make a state visit to Washington on October 23 this year. She had met President Obama last year in April.

As Brazil increasingly sees itself as a voice of the developing nations, there have been frictions in its relationship with the US.

Brazil has taken contrarian positions from that of the US on core international issues like the Syrian conflict through groups like BRICS and IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa).

Brazil has also remained a strident critic of US monetary policy which it believes has hurt the Brazilian economy.

Meanwhile, China has replaced the US as Brazil’s largest trade partner.

China and Brazil have also recently inked a currency swap agreement during the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban in March.

“We’re ready for a deeper, broader relationship across the board on everything from the military to education, trade and investment,” Biden told reporters in Brasilia.

Biden also praised Rousseff who is the second most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes.

Biden said she is a “leader who is laser-focused on addressing the needs of the Brazilian people. I now understand why President Obama considers her such a great partner.”

With inputs from Agencies