President Obama will meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil at the White House on Saturday, March 14. Brazil is a close friend and partner of the United States and the President looks forward to discussing ways in which the two countries can strengthen cooperation on global and hemispheric challenges. The President looks forward to consulting with President Lula on effective measures to respond to the global financial crisis during the upcoming G-20 meeting, ensuring a productive agenda for the Summit of the Americas in April, and on ways to deepen cooperation on other wide-ranging issues in the bilateral relationship.