§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Brazil following the election of President Lula. [129076]
§ Mr. RammellUK-Brazil relations are good and continuing to develop. I visited Brazil in December 2002 to start the formal process of engagement with the new590W government, and my noble Friend the Leader of the House of Lords (Lord Williams) represented Her Majesty's Government at President Lula's inauguration. The Brazilian Track, Minister, Furlan visited the UK in March. I led the UK delegation at the latest round of bilateral High Level Political Talks in Brasilia in May. President Lula paid a successful first official visit to the UK in July for the Progressive Governance Summit. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister held substantive of bilateral talks with him.