New Delhi/Brasilia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India and Brazil are on the same page on several international issues, including on the fight against terrorism, and they firmly believe that all disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India and Brazil signed six pacts during the bilateral talks.“There should be zero tolerance and zero double standards on terrorism. We are clear that there is no space for double standards on terrorism. We oppose terrorism and supporters of terrorism,” Mr Modi said while addressing the media after the bilateral delegation-level talk with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia.The talks between the Prime Minister and the Brazilian President focused on broadening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the areas of trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health and people-to-people linkages.India and Brazil signed six agreements pertaining to combating international terrorism and transnational organised crimes, on renewable energy, intellectual property, agricultural research, mutual protection of classified information and in the field of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at population scale for digital transformation.Mr Lula conferred the country’s highest honour, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross’ on Mr Modi. The Prime Minister said he is humbled by the honour, which was a “proud and emotional” moment for Indians. He dedicated the honour to Mr Lula’s deep commitment to India and the unbreakable friendship between the two leaders.The PM termed the Brazilian President as the chief architect of the strategic partnership between the two countries. He said both sides have set a trade target of $20 billion for the next five years and will work for a preferential trade agreement.“Growing cooperation in the defence sector is a symbol of our deep bilateral understanding. We will keep up the efforts to connect our defence industries,” said Mr Modi after talks. He also mentioned that the two nations are working on the adoption of the digital system UPI by Brazil.The Prime Minister said the India-Brazil relationship should be taken to a different level, and in this regard, the two sides will work on easing visa norms for tourists, students, sportspersons and businessmen.”India-Brazil relations should be as colourful as carnival, as energetic as a game of football and connecting hearts like Samba,” Mr Modi said.Earlier, Mr Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Alvorada Palace, where the Brazilian President, along with his wife, welcomed him. After the talks, Mr Lula hosted lunch in honour of the Prime Minister.The Prime Minister arrived in Brasilia from Rio de Janeiro, where he attended the 17th Brics summit. On his arrival in Brasilia, Mr Modi was honoured with a 114-horse welcome and a traditional Brazilian Samba Reggae performance by the Batala Mundo band at the airport.In a social media post, the Prime Minister said the band’s music was a global effort to promote Afro-Brazilian percussion. He also received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora, who gathered at the airport to greet him. The PM said that his state visit to Brazil will add momentum to the bilateral relations between the two countries. He thanked Mr Lula for the warm welcome in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. “The natural beauty of the Amazon and the warmth of the Brazilian President has mesmerised me,” said the PM. Mr Modi later left for Namibia for the final leg of his five-nation tour.
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