09:30

Brasília - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will meet with the president of France, Jacques Chirac, this morning at the Palacio do Planalto. The two leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation in science and technology, the fight against poverty and hunger, and the creation of mechanisms to ease access to drugs for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. They will sign agreements and a joint declaration that will be released to the press after the meeting. Later, Chirac will be the guest of honor at a lunch offered by Lula.

The French mission accompanying Chirac consists of business leaders, members of parliament and representatives of research centers and the academic community. Cabinet members are also present: ministers of Foreign Affairs, Philippe Douste-Blazy; Defense, Mich? Alliot-Marie; Economy, Finances and Industry, Thierry Breton; Education, Gilles de Robien; and the delegate for Industry, François Loos.

Translation: Allen Bennett

Source: Radiobrás