BRASILIA, Brazil — Canada and Brazil may join forces for the production of biofuels in Haiti, one of the top advisers of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday.

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, in Brazil on a seven-day official visit, discussed the matter during her meeting with Silva in this capital city, international affairs adviser Marco Aurelio Garcia told reporters.

Jean and Silva also discussed ways to strengthen already existing co-operation projects in the areas of health and reforestation that the two countries have implemented in Haiti, Garcia said.

Brazil and Canada are members of the Friends of Haiti, along with the United States, France and Britain.

"We want to join forces in strategic sectors,'' Silva said in a brief speech after his meeting with Jean. "Canada has large deposits of fossil fuels and Brazil is a world reference in terms of biofuels. This means we have a special responsibility in terms of climate change and energy security.''

In her speech, Jean praised Silva's efforts to reduce poverty levels in Latin America's biggest country.

"We wholeheartedly support your desire . . . to combine economic stability with a policy of social inclusion, and we congratulate you for it,'' Jean said. "As you yourself said, `where there is hunger there is no hope.'''

She also praised Silva's Zero Hunger, that distributes monthly stipends to millions of impoverished Brazilians. The main requirement is that families pledge to keep their children in school.

Jeans reiterated Canada's desire to double trade with Brazil by 2012. Trade between the two countries hit about C$3.7 billion last year.

Brazil is Canada's third largest export market in the Americas, and Jean called the country Canada's "most important trading partner in South America.''

Sectors with the biggest potential for growth between Brazil and Canada include automobile motors and parts, tires, airplanes, electric motors, pumps and compressors, flooring and ceramics, furniture, shoes, sugar and cocoa products.

Brazil has also ramped up investment in Canada, most notably with last year's blockbuster $18-million purchase of Canadian nickel miner Inco Ltd. by Brazilian iron ore miner Companhia Vale do Rio Doce SA, which turned CVRD into the world's No. 2 miner after Anglo-Australian BHP Billiton Ltd.

Jean will close her visit to Brazil by attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic-style Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.