Brazilian president to visit China

BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lulada Silva is
to visit China from May 18 to 20 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu
Jintao, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu announced Thursday.

Lula's current tour will be the second state visit to China since he took
office in 2003. It coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of
China-Brazil diplomatic ties.

China attached importance to the visit, Ma told a regular press conference.

He added that the two presidents would hold talks on deepening strategic
partnership and substantial cooperation in all fields, and exchange views on
international and regional issues of common concern.

Many cooperative agreements would be signed during the visit, said the
spokesman.

Ma said that Lula's visit would cement existing friendly relations between
China and Brazil and push forward strategic partnership.