Brazilian president starts first Russian visit

MOSCOW: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff began Thursday her first visit to Russia as leader of Latin America's biggest economy, vowing to forge better ties between two of the world's top emerging markets.

Rousseff met with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who told her: "Russian-Brazilian relations are at a very good level, our trade volume grew substantially over the past several years, and there are companies involved in interesting projects."

Rousseff is due to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin on Friday and sign a series of agreements.

"I think the agreements we sign tomorrow will further deepen our partnership," she told Medvedev.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin-Rousseff talks will focus on growing trade from the current $6.5 billion, and discuss energy, aerospace and technology cooperation.

The countries are partners in the BRICS bloc of emerging powers along with China, India and South Africa, which flashed its increasing global influence in June by bringing some $95.5 billion in new money to the International Monetary Fund, and demanding a greater voice in the financial body in return.

In an interview with state news agency Itar-TASS published Thursday, Rousseff said Russia and Brazil "have a lot in common" and that she has "very big plans" for her 50-person delegation's trip.

On a personal note, she said she has "strong roots" in Russia because her father is from Bulgaria. "I am half-Slavic," she said.

Rousseff invited Medvedev to visit Brazil and attend the famous Rio carnival in February, and the Russian prime minister presented her with a traditional folk art lacquer box.

Putin previously met with Rousseff in June on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico.