Brazil, Mexico, Chile to cooperate on food security, trade:Pratibh

On board President's aircraft, April 25 (UNI) Terming her visit to Brazil, Mexico and Chile successful, President Pratibha Patil has said these countries have agreed to promote bilateral trade and cooperate with India on food security.

Speaking to mediapersons, Ms Patil said these countries pledged cooperation with India in agriculture sector to ensure food security and also agreed to increase investment in information technology, bio-technology, science and technology, education, power, health, bilateral trade and social sector.

She said the three countries were eager to cooperate with India at domestic and international fora and have supported New Delhi's stand of establishing economic ties with them.

The President signed four pacts with Brazil, two with Mexico and four with Chile during her visit to these countries.

Ms Patil along with other leaders also decided to implement the existing treaties effectively at the earliest.

She said these countries recognised India's cultural heritage and policy of non-violence and were influenced by ''our recent progress in social and economic sectors'' as they were also facing similar challenges.

Ms Patil said during her visit she was also able to interact with other institutions of democracy--Parliament and representatives of the judiciary--and had communicated directly with the people of the three countries.

She said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet have accepted her invitation to visit India. Mr Lula de Silva would visit India in October to attend the IDSA summit and Ms Bachelet had agreed to visit India next year. Mexican President Philip Cauldron was considering visiting India a second time, she said.

She said her visit had strengthened India's bilateral ties with these nations and she expected more high-level exchanges with these countries in future.

UNI AU AM DS1216