RIYADH – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told Saudi business leaders on Sunday that he wanted to strengthen the ties between his country and Saudi Arabia in all trade areas.

The Brazilian leader delivered a speech after meeting with the Riyadh Saudi Trade and Industry Association in which he called for intensified business contacts and visits by businessmen from the two countries.

“Brasilia and Riyadh are resolved to exchange opinions” and to hold meetings to strengthen cooperation and ties that unite the two countries, Lula said.

The two nations are going to push for more bilateral visits and contacts to foster cooperation in all areas, especially in agriculture, petroleum and chemical production, the Brazilian president said.

Lula emphasized the resources Saudi Arabia has in the area of investment, knowledge, industry and technology, calling this sufficient reason for his country’s business community to travel to the Middle Eastern kingdom to pursue investment opportunities in the industrial and petroleum sectors.

Riyadh Saudi Trade and Industry Association head Abdel Rahman bin Ali al Yerisi said in his own remarks that Lula’s visit will contribute to bringing about a situation in which greater business cooperation can be achieved between the two countries.

“The meeting of the Brazilian president with Saudi businessmen from Riyadh will generate a strong impulse for reactivating bilateral cooperation, thanks to the enormous economic and human capacity both countries possess,” the Saudi business leader said.

During the meetings between the two countries’ delegations, several accords were signed, among them one between Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras and the Saudi Modern Chemical Company.