BEIRUT, March 5 (Xinhua) — Lebanon and Brazil will sign a defense agreement, said visiting Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira Monday. The agreement will “open a legal framework for the cooperation that already exists between our two countries,” the minister said. Ferreira said so following meeting with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, said the statement from the prime minister’s media, adding that he also mentioned “an association agreement between Lebanon and the Common Market of South America.” “We have a very important presence of Lebanese and descendants of Lebanese in Brazil in all areas of our social, economic, political and cultural life,” Ferreira added. He confirmed Brazil’s solidarity with Lebanon’s efforts and the challenges it faces, including the refugee problem, the problem of investment in infrastructure, the effort to re-equip its armed forces and the qualification of its military. “We also express solidarity with the security of Lebanon since we are very proud to participate in the United Nations maritime force which is responsible of ensuring security on the Lebanese coast,” he said. Ferreira also invited the prime minister to visit Brazil, and informed the intention of Brazilian President Michel Tamer to visit Lebanon at the end of the year.