India and Brazil to hold strategic dialogue

Brasilia, Sept 13: India and Brazil have decided to initiate a strategic dialogue on issues of mutual concern, encompassing energy security and the international security situation, including the menace of terrorism, while announcing a series of steps aimed at upgrading their political and economic ties to the level of a ''strategic partnership''.

This strategic dialogue will be conducted by National Security Adviser M K Narayanan on the Indian side and his Brazilian counterpart.

According to a joint communique issued after the summit meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva yesterday, the two leaders reaffirmed that international terrorism constituted one of the most serious threats to peace and security and emphasised the need for concerted and coordinated action by the international community, with the ultimate objective of eradicating the evil in all its forms and manifestations.

UNI