The tête-à-tête, signing of bilateral agreements, toasts at the state lunch and visits to legislative and judicial organs yesterday were high points of President Paul Biya's official visit to Brazil.

On the second day of his official visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil yesterday, President Paul Biya strove to set the cooperation ties between the two countries on permanent and tangible pegs. The meeting between the two leaders at the Palaçio Itamaraty alongside a few collaborators obviously re-examined and streamlined growing mutual interest in trade, development projects and vital world issues. Shortly after the tête-à-tête was the signing of bilateral agreements by the Cameroonian and the Brazilian ministers of Agriculture, Tourism and External Relations. The lunch offered by President Lula in honour of President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya was an occasion for both leaders to make public statements that highlighted their resolve to consolidate cooperation ties between the two countries. In the protocol practice of Brazil, State lunch offered by their Head of State to visiting dignitaries take place at the Ministry of External Relations.

Later in the afternoon yesterday, President Paul Biya visited high-profile democratic institutions in Brasilia. Firstly, he was at the Federal Senate and shortly afterwards the Parliament, before rounding off at the Supreme Court. The significance of these visits obviously draws attention to the attachment of President Paul Biya and his country Cameroon to democratic values. The separation of powers between the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary that remains a hallmark of democratic practice is one of the values shared and cherished by the two Heads of State. It remains the hub around which relations between Cameroon and Brazil revolve. The visit to these institutions by President Paul Biya sent positive signals to a world audience stressing that democracy, freedom and justice are values that should reinforce relations between peoples and nations.

Yesterday afternoon also, a round table discussion at Hotel Melia grouped some members of the Cameroon delegation and potential Brazilian investors. The discussions were centred on the new frontiers of business opportunities between Cameroon and Brazil. In the Cameroon delegation amongst others were the Presidents of Gicam and the Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Industries and the Directors General of SODECAO and CAMTEL. With the quantum leap of trade between Cameroon and Brazil from twelve million dollars a few years back to one hundred and thirty million dollars today, the visit of President Paul Biya to Brazil is expected to accelerate this trend.

First Lady Chantal Biya contributed positively to the rich significance already emerging from this official visit. While President Paul Biya and his host were in a tête-à-tête, First Lady Chantal Biya and Marisa Leticia Lula Da Silva were also meeting. Their discussions may have centred on the importance of care and assistance to children in particular and the poor, sick and needy in our communities in general. The First Ladies of Cameroon and Brazil share values of concern and assistance to the sick and needy in human societies. Later in the afternoon, the First Ladies also participated in the lunch offered by President Lula at the Palaçio Itamaraty.