Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama and visiting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Monday stressed the importance of strong ties between their countries, despite Brazil's concerns about U.S. economic policies that it says can work against emerging economies. In comments to reporters after a White House meeting, Obama and Rousseff highlighted the areas of cooperation on energy development, education and trade as the two leaders prepare to attend the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, beginning Friday. However, they made no mention of less collaborative topics, such as whether each country will purchase new military aircraft from the other, or whether the United States will support Brazil's efforts to gain a seat at the U.N. Security Council.
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NEW: Brazil's president calls for a balanced U.S. economic approach
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NEW: The two leaders discuss cooperation in oil and biofuel development
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Two-way trade between Brazil and the United States totaled $74 billion in 2011
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Brazil is the world's sixth-largest economy
"We very much welcome the major improvements that have been found in the @placeholder economy in the recent past, and I am quite certain that that will very much be the emphasis in the next few months and years ahead under the capable leadership of President Obama," she added in what amounted to either an endorsement or prediction of Obama's re-election in November.