LULA & OBAMA ,Meeting in New York March 15th 2009

President of Brazil Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva met President Obama who offered his assurances after a meeting.
They discussed energy cooperation and the economic crisis, trying to coordinate ideas before upcoming summit meetings.
Mr. da Silva pressed Mr. Obama to help reopen global trade talks known as the Doha Round and to lower tariffs that keep Brazilian biofuels out of the American market. Mr. Obama said they had a “wonderful meeting of the minds” and expressed interest in making progress on trade, but he indicated no tariff changes were afoot anytime soon.

Mr. da Silva has been a leading voice in urging the United States to moderate its dealings in Latin America.

He has also made a point of linking himself with Mr. Obama, citing similarities between their origins and the challenges they overcame to lead their countries. Sitting next to him in the Oval Office, Mr. da Silva said he prayed more for Mr. Obama than he did for himself and, with all the troubles confronting him, would not want to be in the American president’s shoes.

Mr. Obama smiled and replied, “You sound like you’ve been talking to my wife.”

Peter Baker reported from Washington, and Alexei Barrionuevo from São Paulo, Brazil.