Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will make a two-day visit to Brazil from March 17 aimed at bolstering relations between the two countries.

Mahathir, 77, who is currently o­n a two-month holiday, would meet President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who assumed office in January.

The visit would provide the two leaders an opportunity to exchange views o­n matters of mutual interest including bilateral relations and regional and international developments, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Mahathir will mark 22 years in office in July, and has pledged to step down and hand the reins to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in October. AFP