Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner and Brazil's President Lula da Silva at Sept 7 Celebrations

On Monday Mrs. Kirchner will meet President Lula da Silva and is scheduled to sign a 200 million US dollars credit extended by Brazil’s Economic and Social Development bank, BNDES specifically for Argentine infrastructure projects and export promotion.

This is the first time the BNDES participates in the financing of non Brazilian companies and is seen as a crucial step in the integration process as well as helping Argentina to level the growing trade deficit (four billion US dollars) with its associate.

Today is the Independence Day of Brazil. On this day in 1822 Dom Pedro II declared the independence of his country from Portugal, since then the country has proudly celebrated the day with much fanfare and excitement. Thousands gather to proudly celebrate Brazilian Independence Day every year. A country of mythic proportions, people gather in the streets, celebrating with banners, balloons and streamers. A young Brazilian woman carries the national flag -- the symbol of the greatest democracy and presently most successful and largest country in all of South America. Students take part in the parade held in the morning, flying the Brazilian flag with great dignity. The carnival lasts all day and people of all ages take part. In the evening people gather to see amazing fireworks light up the clear sky above the blue-black Amazon.

For the second year in a row, the Brazilian Independence Day Festival will kick off its celebrations in Framingham with a samba and bossa nova concert at Costin Room at the main Framingham Public Library today at 7 p.m.

The five-day festival highlights Framingham's importance as Massachusetts' magnet for Brazilian immigrants.