Brazilian President da Silva on 3 December arrived in Lebanon as part of a trip to the Middle East - the first official visit by a Brazilian leader since Emperor Pedro II visited in 1870. His visit to Beirut is deemed particularly important due to the size of the Lebanese community in Brazil. 'The Lebanese community is a prominent community in Brazil, both economically and politically,' a Brazilian diplomat told AFP. 'It accounts for between 15 percent and 20 percent of deputies and senators... Brazil wants to increase political and economic relations with the Arab world and with Lebanon in particular.'