    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [March 31, 2007]
    [Pages 372-374]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement on the Occasion of the Visit by President Luiz Inacio
    Lula da Silva of Brazil to Camp
    David
    March 31, 2007

        Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and George W. Bush resolved to
    continue deepening the strategic dialogue between Brazil and the United
    States, as reflected in the determination to increase bilateral
    cooperation based on the shared values of democracy, human rights,
    cultural diversity, trade liberalization, multilateralism, environmental
    protection, defense of international peace and security, and promotion
    of development with social justice.
        The Presidents welcomed the strengthening of the partnership between
    the two countries in the area of renewable energy with the Memorandum of
    Understanding to Advance Cooperation on Biofuels, signed in Sao Paulo on
    March 9, 2007. The Presidents noted with satisfaction the results of the
    meeting on implementation of the

    [[Page 373]]

    Memorandum, held in Washington on March 29. They expressed their
    governments' intention to arrange for Brazilian scientists and
    researchers to visit state-of-the-art biofuels research laboratories in
    the United States, as well as visits to Brazil by senior officials of
    the United States Departments of Energy, State, and Agriculture in
    Spring 2007. The United States and Brazil recognized the support of
    institutions including the IDB, the United Nations Foundation, and the
    Organization of American States. Brazil and the United States plan to
    begin efforts to work together, initially, with Haiti, the Dominican
    Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, and El Salvador, and to pursue
    consultations with other countries interested in participating in the
    cooperation program.
        The Presidents noted with satisfaction the growth of bilateral trade
    and investments between the United States and Brazil. They reaffirmed
    their intention to use the ongoing ``Commercial Dialogue'' to seek ways
    to promote innovation and increase trade opportunities, particularly for
    small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to protect intellectual
    property rights. The Heads of State noted the formation of the U.S.-
    Brazil CEO Forum to engage directly with leaders in the business
    community to discuss economic and trade-related topics. They applauded
    plans by United States Council on Competitiveness and Brazilian
    Competitiveness Movement to stage an ``Innovation Summit'' in Brasilia
    in July 2007 to support greater competitiveness and innovation. The
    Presidents agreed to direct their governments to explore initiatives in
    the area of tourism, including examining the possibility of increasing
    flights between Brazil and the United States, with particular attention
    to Northeast Brazil.
        The Presidents applauded the March 20, 2007 signing in Brasilia of
    an Agreement for the Exchange of Information Relating to Taxes. The
    Presidents expressed hope that the signing of this Agreement will be the
    first step toward cooperation between the Brazilian Federal Revenue
    Secretariat and the Internal Revenue Service. They pledged to redouble
    ongoing work toward the conclusion of an agreement on double taxation.
        The Presidents noted with satisfaction the progress achieved since
    their November 2005 meeting in Brasilia, including the first-ever
    convening of the bilateral Joint Commission on Science and Technology on
    July 21, 2006; and the launch of a Commercial Dialogue between the
    Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade and the
    U.S. Department of Commerce.
        The Presidents welcomed the strengthened partnership in education
    through the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding in this area.
    They applauded the immediate start-up of its implementation with the
    launch of a program targeting increased professional and technological
    education in Brazil and bilateral exchange in an effort to include
    increasing numbers of young people and adults in the labor market.
        The Presidents expressed their support for cooperation with African
    countries. They applauded the trilateral cooperation to strengthen the
    Legislative Branch of Guinea-Bissau, as established in the March 30
    Memorandum of Understanding. The Presidents also discussed the possible
    broadening of such cooperative efforts to include other interested
    African countries. The two Presidents announced a specific commitment to
    cooperate on a plan to eradicate malaria in Sao Tome and Principe. They
    also agreed to explore cooperation in combating malaria, tuberculosis,
    and neglected diseases, especially in Portuguese-speaking countries in
    Africa such as Angola and Mozambique, and to confront the threat of
    avian flu, building on their cooperation on HIV/AIDS in Mozambique and
    Angola.
        The Presidents recognized that the success of international action
    in Haiti depends

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    on simultaneous activities to achieve security, political
    reconciliation, and socioeconomic development. They intend to act within
    the United Nations framework to increase multilateral cooperation in
    Haiti and welcomed efforts to identify areas of mutual cooperation in
    support of stability and economic development in Cite Soleil. They
    applauded the success of efforts by Brazil and the United States, in
    cooperation with other countries in the region, to secure United Nations
    Security Council renewal of the mandate of the United Nations
    Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) last February.
        The Presidents sought to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the
    area of public safety, particularly in combating organized crime, drug
    trafficking, and money laundering, and in preventing terrorism and
    terrorism financing, with emphasis on information sharing between
    intelligence units and on the establishment of mechanisms for recovering
    assets resulting from transnational crimes.
        The Heads of State reaffirmed global economic growth and development
    as the main objectives of the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization
    (WTO). They underscored the importance of continuing to constructively
    engage negotiators, which facilitated the resumption of the
    negotiations. The Presidents pledged to work together toward a
    successful conclusion, taking advantage of the window of opportunity
    opened in 2007. They emphasized that the agreement should be ambitious
    and balanced, with a view to both an appreciable increase in market
    access and in global trade flows, and a significant reduction in global
    poverty rates.
        The Presidents reaffirmed the importance of reform of the United
    Nations to make the organization better able to deal with today's
    complex international agenda. They further reaffirmed their commitment
    to coordinate closely on the issue of Security Council reform.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.