British PM seeks increased trade in Brazil

British Prime Minister David Cameron met Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to discuss ways to increase trade and investment between the two countries. Cameron, who was joined by a 50-member business delegation, on Friday said he was confident that Brazil and Britain could forge an "absolutely first-rate partnership." "Linking Britain to the fast-growing markets is one of the best ways to boost growth at home," Cameron said after the meeting, held on the second day of his first visit to Latin America's dominant power. Cameron, whose country held very successful Olympic Games this year, also pledged British cooperation for equally impressive Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro four years from now. "I am absolutely certain there will be triumph and success in 2016," he said. "I hope we can use the partnership between our Olympics as a once in a generation moment to transform our trade and investment relations." Rousseff said in a brief statement that trade and investment between the two countries have been steadily increasing despite the global economic and financial crisis. "We believe they can grow even more," she said. Bilateral trade reached $5.23 billion between January and August, with a $567 million surplus for Brazil, according to official Brazilian statistics. Imports from Britain rose 10 percent this year, while Britain cut imports from Brazil by 12.8 percent. Earlier Friday, Cameron toured a Rio de Janeiro shantytown under the sway of violent drug gangs, escorted by more than 100 police officers backed by armored vehicles. Children practicing capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, welcomed him at the headquarters of "Fight for Peace," a British-funded non-governmental organization located in the Complexo da Mare, a cluster of slums -- known here as favelas -- located near the international airport. Founded by British boxer Luke Dowdney, "Fight For Peace" cares for 2,250 youths a year, teaching them boxing and other martial arts. Since 2008 security forces been taking control of the favelas from drug traffickers ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Special police units have been deployed to favelas where drug traffickers have been evicted. Cameron opened his visit Thursday in Sao Paulo, the country's economic capital, warning Brazil against protectionism. He later traveled to Rio to meet with Graca Foster, chief of state-owned energy giant Petrobras. "We have a huge potential in the oil and gas sector. But we are open to British products and services," Foster said after the meeting Thursday.