BRASILIA:US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Brasilia early Monday for two days of talks aimed at encouraging expanding US-Brazilian ties and at promoting open government worldwide.
Clintonarrived from a summit of theAmericasin neighboringColombiawhere Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff urged herUScounterpart Barack Obama to treatLatin Americaas an equal.
Brazilhas become more assertive as a new regional economic and political power.
With bilateral economic ties expanding, the chiefUSdiplomat is set to meet later Monday with Brazilian oil industry and other business leaders as well as Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, US officials said.
On Monday, she will also lead theUSdelegation to the third US-Brazil Global Partnership Dialogue, which builds upon agreements the two sides reached during Obama's visit toBrazillast year and Rousseff's visit to theUnited Stateslast week.
On Tuesday,Clintonwill attend the first high-level meeting of the Open Government Partnership since its launch in September by theUnited States,Brazil,Mexico,Britain,Norway,South Africa, thePhilippinesandIndonesia.
USofficials said the meeting, to be chaired by Clinton and Rousseff, will welcome 42 new governments to the OGP when they present national commitments to promoting transparency, accountability and civil participation.
It is a partnership among governments as well as one with civil society and the private sector.