The first and foremost area of partnership between Bulgaria and Brazil must be trade, according to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is in Sofia as part of her European tour.

Rousseff spoke Wednesday, after her meeting with her Bulgarian counterpart, Georgi Parvanov, saying trade between the two countries has been expanding for a decade before Bulgaria's joining of the EU, and then there has been a decline, particularly over the global economic crisis from 2008 until now. She pointed out that this crisis is interfering with having exact data on the current trade.

"I have firm intentions to regain all lost territories by bringing back the dynamics and multiply opportunities for Bulgarian and Brazilian businessmen. After my first talks, I am optimistic about the future of Bulgarian-Brazilian relations," Rousseff declared.

Top priorities in the visit of the Brazilian President also include boosting partnership in the education and healthcare sectors.

The Brazilian Head of State further spoke about her attention to opportunities for student exchange, saying she had discussed it with Parvanov. She also stated she knew about Bulgaria's significant achievement in some sciences such as physics, mathematics and medicine.

"During all my meetings, I will stress on our readiness to share and exchange ideas and experience in all sectors of economy, politics, trade and culture; in agriculture, renewable energy sources, aircraft engineering, extraction and processing of oil and others," Rousseff explained.

"Brazil considers Bulgaria a strong strategic ally in Europe and the Balkans, where we want to expand our presence. Bulgaria and Brazil have many common values," she said.

Rousseff further voiced faith in Bulgaria's success.

This is the first visit ever of a Brazilian head of state to Bulgaria, also marking the 50th year since Bulgaria and Brazil restored their diplomatic relations. Rousseff is in Bulgaria less than a year after she became the first female President of Brazil.

Dilma Rousseff, the daughter of Bulgarian immigrant Petar Rusev (Pedro Rousseff), has been eagerly expected in Bulgaria, all the more so because she has made clear her good feelings towards the home country of her father.