Brasilia  - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated new US President Barack Obama on Wednesday, and expressed a call for "fluent and profitable" dialogue and a "renewed friendship" between the two countries.

"As multi-ethnic, democratic and greatly culturally-diverse societies, the United States and Brazil have many similarities and common purposes. I share his intention of seeking political solutions to the great problems that threaten collective security in today's world from a multilateral perspective," Lula said.

In a message that the Brazilian Foreign Ministry made public in Brasilia, he added that he shares Obama's concern for finding "urgent and profound solutions to the severe financial and economic crisis which originated in the developed world and is now threatening developing countries."

"May you have great success in your new duties and may we be the instruments of a renewed friendship between our two peoples," the message ended. dpa