Invest KOREA

South Korea's prime minister met with Brazil's new president Sunday, congratulating her on her inauguration and asking for support for South Korean firms seeking to participate in the South American nation's high-speed train project, an official said.

Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik was in Brazil to attend the inauguration of new President Dilma Rousseff held on Saturday. Kim paid a visit to Rousseff on Sunday and delivered a letter from the South Korean President to the new president, the official said.

Kim also asked for Brazil's support for South Korean companies trying to take part in the country's US$20 billion high-speed train project as well as in other infrastructure construction projects expected ahead of Brazil's hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the official said.

Kim also expressed hope that relations between South Korea and Brazil will further move forward during Rousseff's term and invited her to visit South Korea, the official said. Kim also asked Rousseff to attend a ceremony next month to break the ground for a Hyundai Motor plant in Piracicaba in the state of Sao Paulo, he said.

Rousseff expressed thanks to South Korea and President Lee for sending a large-scale delegation to her inauguration, and said she will try to expand and deepen Brazil's relations with South Korea in political, economic, cultural and other areas, the official said.

Brazil is South Korea's largest trading partner in Central and South America, with bilateral trade volume expected to reach about US$12 billion this year.

Source: Yonhap News (Jan. 2, 2011)