The leaders of Brazil and Syria on Wednesday voiced their strong interests to strengthen trade ties during Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's visit to the South American country, Xinhua reported.
During a welcoming luncheon at the Itamaraty Palace of the Foreign Ministry, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that in today's world, it is necessary to overcome barriers to foster development.
"The trend is growing with a multilateral trading system, corresponding more with expectations of developing world," Lula said.
Lula voiced support for the Arab country to join the World Trade Organization. "We advocate an end to the obstacles that impede the advancement of the accession process of Syria to WTO," he said.
The president praised the Brazil-Syria Business Council, which was created to expand business opportunities and promote bilateral trade.
For his part, Al-Assad proposed to start negotiations on a free trade agreement between Syria and the Mercosur - a regional bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
"It would be advisable to consider the possibility of a free trade agreement between Syria and Mercosur. It would help improve bilateral relations with Brazil and relations with South America," he said.
The arrival of the Syrian president, the first visit by a head of state from this country to Brazil, coincides with the celebration of 130 years of Arab immigration to the South American country.
Al-Assad is on a South American tour that already took him to Cuba and Venezuela. He will also visit Argentina and Spain.