MAPUTO, Nov 5 (AFP) - Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano asked Brazil on Wednesday for aid to help his southern African country combat a devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic.
"The fight against HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest challenges for us and we are confident that Brazil's ... rich experience in this regard will be a valuable contribution to our struggle against the epidemic," Chissano told visiting Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva.
Chissano told Lula and his team of ministers and businessmen the proposed construction by Brazilian firms of a pharmaceutical laboratory in Mozambique to produce generic AIDS drugs would have the full backing of his government.
"I can assure you the construction of the generic AIDS drugs factory in Mozambique will have our total support," he told Lula, who was due later on Wednesday to visit an AIDS treatment centre in the capital, Maputo.
About 14 percent of Mozambique's population of 16 million is infected with HIV/AIDS.
Chissano also urged Brazilian firms to invest in Mozambique.
He said Mozambique offered a business-friendly environment that made it "a privileged destination for foreign investment".
Mozambique hosts one of the world's largest aluminum smelters, the Mozal facility majority-owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton.
An 865-kilometre (540-mile) natural gas pipeline to South Africa in under construction and heavy mineral sand projects run by Australian and Irish firms are due to start operating soon.
Chissano said there were many unexplored opportunities in Mozambique in other sectors, including agriculture and power.
Lula arrived in Maputo on Tuesday for a two-day official visit as part of a five-nation African tour. One of the main purposes of the tour is to rally support in Africa for Lula's campaign against farm subsidies in wealthy nations that are undermining developing countries' export markets.
Chissano said Mozambique supported Lula's campaign.
"We are sure that the role of Brazil will be crucial in our efforts against the ... farm subsidies and the struggle to obtain access for our products to the markets of the developed world," he said.
At the end of Wednesday's talks, Mozambique and Brazil signed agreements on cooperating in education, health, information technology and agricultural research.
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