WORLD IN BRIEF : BRAZIL : President Lauded in Washington Visit

President Clinton rolled out the red carpet for Brazil’s President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, with both leaders declaring their two nations are entering a new era of closer relations. Clinton heaped praise on Cardoso, who has proposed constitutional reforms to open key sectors of the Brazilian economy to foreign investors. The United States has singled out Brazil as one of the world’s top emerging markets. Besides trade, the two presidents discussed terrorism, peacekeeping efforts, anti-drug strategies and proposals to strengthen international financial institutions to meet challenges such as Mexico’s recent economic crisis.