OREANDA-NEWS. October 30, 2009. The President congratulated Mr Lula da Silva on his 64th birthday and also presented his personal congratulations, after earlier sending a telegram, on Rio de Janeiro’s winning the right to host the 2016 Olympics.

Mr Medvedev welcomed Brazil’s election as one of the UN Security Council’s non-permanent members for 2010-2011. Both leaders expressed their firm commitment in this respect to close cooperation on international affairs within the UN and other international bodies. They spoke in particular about cooperation within the BRIC Group, which will hold its next summit in Brazil.

The two presidents also discussed current bilateral cooperation in connection with the Brazilian President’s planned visit to Russia in 2010. They noted that trade and economic ties and cooperation in other areas have reached a high level, but said there is still much potential that can be developed.