during their first meeting in washington on march 14, 2009, u.s. president barack obama and his brazilian counterpart, then-president luiz inacio lula da silva, discussed the economy, energy, the environment, and the custody case of a u.s. boy taken to brazil. "i have been a great admirer of brazil and a great admirer of the progressive, forward-looking leadership that president lula has shown throughout latin america and throughout the world," obama said after the meeting. "we have a very strong friendship between the two countries but we can always make it stronger", he added.