“Saudi Arabia is the most powerful Arab country with which Brazil intends to have strong economic cooperation and cultural relations. The two countries have a number of common issues such as environment protection and energy production,” Oliveira said while receiving on Thursday a Saudi Arabian youth delegation currently visiting Brazil. Yousuf Al-Saadoun, undersecretary for economic and cultural affairs at the ministry of foreign affairs, heads the delegation. Its members are mostly students from various Saudi universities. The visit is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to establish closer contact with other societies and cultures in the world. The Saudi economy is vibrant and Brazilians can benefit from it, Oliveira noted. He added that the economies of both Saudi Arabia and Brazil are on the right track to achieving great results. “In fact, the two countries can draft joint plans and projects for cooperation in the Amazon region, which will be a service not only to us but to the whole world. It is because the preservation of the Amazon, which is a region vital to the natural balance of the earth, provides a service to the world,” he said. Al-Saadoun said the primary objective of the visit was to promote cultural exchange between young people of both countries, as it was seen as a way of achieving better cooperation in other areas. “We in the Kingdom believe that the environment will be the lead issue for the future of the world. It is also important that the youths, who will become leaders in the future, are familiar with the major issues,” he said. Issues concerning the environment and renewable energy, a sector where Brazil has made notable strides by becoming the largest producer of biofuel, topped the discussions of the Saudi and Brazilian youth delegation in the Amazonas capital Manaus. They also discussed the role of Saudi Arabia in the global energy market and its contributions to environmental preservation. They discussed Brazil’s role in energy production and the transfer of knowledge in managing huge crowds of people.