Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will arrive in South Africa with a delegation of seven ministers on Thursday for a four-day visit, the department of international relations said.

Lula da Silva and President Jacob Zuma hoped to sign a declaration launching a South Africa-Brazil strategic partnership, as well as a memorandum of understanding on inter-governmental co-operation, it said.

They would discuss bilateral relations, notably issues relating to the fourth meeting of the SA-Brazil Joint Commission held in May.

Saul Molobi, chief director for public diplomacy, said the two presidents were also expected to agree to strengthen economic relations and to commit to annual political consultations between their countries "to ensure due bilateral interface in the post-Lula era".

Lula da Silva is to step down in January 2011 after two terms in office.

Brazil is South Africa's largest trading partner in South America. Total trade between the two countries was nearly $1,7-billion in 2009, but the trade balance remains skewed in Brazil's favour.

Zuma's spokesman Zizi Kodwa said it was not clear yet whether Lula da Silva would attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in Soweto on Sunday.

"It will depend on whether he wants to stay over the game. We will see," he said. Brazil hosts the next World Cup in 2014.

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