Russian President Putin due to host Brazilian President in Kremlin for talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin was due to host his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday for talks the Kremlin said would focus on the two countries' political and economic cooperation.

After their meeting, the two leaders were to witness the signing of an agreement between their countries' space agencies providing for a space visit next spring by Brazil's first astronaut, air force Lt. Col. Marcos Cesar Pontes.

During a November visit to Brazil, Putin agreed that Russia would help Brazil resume its space program and restore its rocket-launching base, which was destroyed by an explosion in 2003 that killed 21 people, reports the AP.

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