President Dilma Rousseff to visit France - Paris, 11 and 12 December 2012

President Dilma Rousseff will make a State visit to France on 11 and 12 December. While in Paris, she will meet with the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, with the President of the Senate, Jean-Pierre Bel, and the National Assembly, Claude Bartolone, and with the Mayor of Paris, Betrand Delanoë. President Dilma Rousseff will also take part in a seminar sponsored by the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and by the Lula Institute and in a symposium held by the French Business Confederation (MEDEF).

The visit will provide an opportunity to enhance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Established in 2006, the partnership encompasses cooperation initiatives on defense, energy, trade, sustainable development, science, technology and innovation, as well as on spatial, transboundary, educational and cultural areas. Global issues will also be addressed, such as the outlook for overcoming the global economic crisis and resuming growth, the situation in the Middle East and in Northern Africa and the reform of multilateral institutions.

In the past five years, the trade exchange rose 40%, from US$6.99 billion in 2007 to US$9.78 billion in 2011, having reached US$8.3 billion in the first ten months of 2012. Between 2001 and 2011, the French investment stock in Brazil grew by nearly US$ 19 billion. In 2011, France was the fifth largest investor in the country.