Brussels, 06/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton will visit Brazil and Mexico, the EU's two strategic partners in Latin America, on 5-10 February. In Brazil, Ashton will meet President Dilma Vana Rousseff and Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota. Bilateral relations, especially ahead of the EU-Brazil summit later this year, the situation in the two regions and global challenges, such as climate change and major international affairs - Iran, Syria, the Middle East peace plan and the response to the Arab Spring - will be on the agenda.
In Mexico, Ashton will hold meetings with President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa. They will discuss relations between the two sides and current developments, Mexico's chairmanship of the G20, and global challenges.
Before her departure, Ashton said she hoped these visits “will strengthen our political and economic ties and create opportunities for synergies in addressing regional and global challenges”. The European Union is committed, she said to strengthening the strategic partnership with both Brazil and Mexico. “The EU is following with interest the dynamics of the Latin America and I believe we need to find even more ambitious ways of working together”. (CG/transl.rt)