Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed to strengthen bilateral relations during a meeting in Hiroshima, the first between the two dignitaries.

Modi and Lula, who attended the G7 summit as guests, discussed the strategic partnership between the two countries and looked at ways to strengthen it, mainly in sectors such as trade, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, dairy and livestock as well as biofuels and clean energy, said the Indian foreign ministry.

The two leaders noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and stressed the need to organise a high-level meeting of business leaders.

They also discussed the development of Asia and Latin America and agreed on the importance of continuing cooperation on multilateral platforms and the need to reform multilateral institutions.

According to diplomatic sources, the Indian prime minister expects to receive the Brazilian president at the G20 summit in September this year, as reported by Prensa Latina.

Latin American country will take over the rotating presidency of the G20 in December. Next year's G20 summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro. The G20 is currently chaired by India.

Brazil and India are territorially large countries with cultural diversity, democratic governments and large multi-ethnic populations. The countries cooperate on issues such as international trade, BRICS, the environment, United Nations reform and Security Council enlargement.

MENAFN- Caribbean News Global