Australia, Brazil sign partner agreement PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has signed a partnership agreement with Brazil after she became the first Australian leader to visit the South American nation. During a visit to Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations sustainable development conference yesterday, Ms Gillard met on the sidelines with Brazil's leader, President Dilma Rousseff. President Rousseff welcomed Australia's support for Brazil as a permanent member in a reformed United Nations Security Council and, according to the agreement document, "acknowledged Australian credentials for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the 2013/2014 term." The pair spoke about renewable energy, biofuels and mining, as well as future agribusiness exchanges and the forthcoming air services agreement start. Officials will start planning for a trade and investment group meeting involving both countries, and a parliamentary delegation from Brazil is soon to visit Western Australia to study mining in indigenous lands. University students and academics will be exchanged under the Science without Borders program. Australia is to hold a program of "cultural activities"" in Brazil's Olympic hosting year 2016.