India and Brazil agreed to boost co-operation on critical minerals and rare earths on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks in New Delhi with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"The agreement on critical minerals and rare earths in a major step towards building resilient supply chains," Modi said.

Brazil has the world's second-largest reserves of critical minerals, which are used in everything from electric vehicles, solar panels and smartphones to jet engines and guided missiles.

India has been expanding domestic production and recycling while scouting for new suppliers.

"Increasing investments and co-operation in matters of renewable energies and critical minerals is at the core of the pioneering agreement that we have signed today," Lula said.

Details of the deal were not immediately available.

Nine other agreements and memoranda of understanding were finalised on Saturday, the foreign ministry's spokesman said, touching on digital co-operation, health, entrepreneurship and other fields.

"Brazil is India's largest trade partner in Latin America. We are committed to taking our bilateral trade beyond US$20 billion in the coming five years," Modi said.

"Our trade is not just a figure, but a reflection of trust."

Lula, who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a summit on artificial intelligence, is accompanied by a delegation of more than a dozen ministers as well as business leaders.

On Saturday, he was given a ceremonial welcome and paid his tributes to India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, before going into the meeting with Modi.

Lula addressed the AI Impact summit in Delhi on Thursday, calling for a multilateral and inclusive global governance framework for artificial intelligence.

He will travel on to South Korea for meetings with President Lee Jae-myung and to attend a business forum. (AFP)



Edited by Thomas McAlinden