RIYADH: Riyadh Book Fair 2009 ended with success, controversies, some mishaps and many hopes for many returns.

Brazil was the guest country at this year’s book fair, and the occasion was a step forward in bilateral relations between the two countries.

“The book fair took the relation, which has been developing positively through the last 10 years, to a new level,” said Sergio Luiz Canaes, the Brazilian ambassador in Riyadh.

Canaes said his belief in respecting all cultures and people is derived from Brazil being home to a multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-national society that is strongly united. Although Portuguese is the official language, 180 other languages are spoken in the South American country.

“Accepting and respecting the other is the basis of our legacy in Brazil,” said Canaes, adding that it is also the basis for appreciating and welcoming King Abdullah’s interfaith initiative.

“In 2000, when King Abdullah was crown prince, he visited Brazil, and the Brazilian president is due to visit the Kingdom during the first half of this year,” he said, adding that many steps have been taken to build more relations with the Kingdom. This included the 2005 First Summit for South American and Arab Countries, which was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal.

The two countries have previously signed seven agreements, and recently signed eight draft agreements that will be finalized by the Brazilian president during his visit.

Issues relating to cultural fusion, general cooperation, political issues, cooperation in security, and cooperation between Marksa (the South American Free Market) and the GCC are among the eight draft agreements.

The Saudi student issue is also to be discussed and worked on said Canaes, adding that although there are over six Brazilians studying in the Kingdom, Saudi students do not come to Brazil to study. “The difficulties we are facing in this regard are because we do not have English as a medium of instruction in our universities,” he said.

“Being the guest of this year’s Riyadh Book Fair is a major step for us to introduce and promote Brazil and its potentials to Saudi society on both the cultural and tourism levels,” he said, adding that he and his country are looking forward to many years of cooperation, and hope for more participation in future cultural events.