CRI听力:Abe Concludes LatAm Tour by Signing Key Agreement with Brazil

Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff have agreed to strengthen their bilateral ties by signing a variety of agreements.

Among the deals reached so far, Japan will lend Brazil nearly one billion US dollars to be invested in offshore oil platforms and in the production of grains.

The two leaders also signed mutual cooperation treaties in the infrastructure, pharmaceutical, energy, mining and educational areas.

Abe said Brazil is crucial for expanding Japan's economic interests in Latin America.

"Because of a human link, Brazil is a friend of Japan like no other. Japan is strengthening its relationship with Latin America and Brazil is key. We are partners: Brazil presents great opportunities for investment in areas such as energy, oil production in deep waters, transport infrastructure, not to mention a market of approximately 200 million people. All this has rekindled the interest of Japanese companies."

The two leaders also discussed ways to increase bilateral trade which last year amounted to 15 billion US dollars.

Brazil is the last stop of Abe's five-nation tour of Latin America that also included Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, and Chile.