BRASILIA, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to start his two-day visit to Brazil Monday for better cooperation with the largest country in South America.

    Powell will arrive in Sao Paulo, Brazil's industrial center, late Monday for talks with local business leaders. Then he will fly to the country's capital for meetings with Brazilian PresidentLuis Inacio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Celso Amorim. He will leave the country early Wednesday.

    Spokesman for the US State Department Richard Boucher said leaders of the two countries will "discuss the strength and the depth of our relationship" and will cover such issues as the situation in Venezuela, Brazil's peacekeeping mission in Haiti, Brazil's membership in the UN Security Council and other issues ofcommon interest, news from Washington said.

    Some analysts here said Brazil is likely to ask the United States for strong support in its efforts for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, while the Bush administration needs to keep a friendly relationship with Brazil as the US presidential elections will come in just less than five weeks.

    Brazilian officials will also discuss with Powell cooperation in boosting regional trade and an agreement on the inspection of aBrazilian nuclear plant.

    Recently the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accused Brazil of buying nuclear equipment from a Pakistani scientist. Brazil has so far denied the charges, claiming that it has nothingillicit to hide. IAEA officials are scheduled to visit the nuclearplant in two weeks, but the Brazilian government has refused to grant them access to the facility. Enditem