BRAZIL'S FM HOPES TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH U.S. THROUGH OBAMA'S UPCOMING VISIT

Brasilia, March 18- Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said on Thursday that he hoped his country will strengthen ties with the United States through the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama.

"Brazil wants an equal relation. The current circumstances of the world allow that," Patriota said. "We want a multi-polar cooperation, not rivalry and confrontation”.

The current state of the global economy and the energy sector, especially oil and biofuels, will be among the topics of the meetings held by the U.S. president and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

According to Patriota, Brazil expects Obama to support the country's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. Like other developing nations, Brazil argues that the current configuration of the Council does not reflect the multilateral reality of the 21st century.

Rousseff also intends to discuss with Obama the possibility of providing Brazilian students with more opportunities in U.S. universities.

It will be Obama's first visit to Brazil. The president will be accompanied by his wife Michelle and his two daughters.

Obama will arrive in Brazil's capital city Brasilia on Saturday morning, and will meet with Rousseff and business leaders. On Sunday, he will make a public speech in Rio, and visit the Christ Redeemer monument and a local shantytown.

After visiting Brazil, Obama will head to Chile and El Salvador.

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