RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazil will send trade missions to Asia and Europe in a bid to expand its agricultural exports, Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina said on Tuesday.

Speaking to Brazil's G1 news website, Cristina said she would personally lead the delegations to open new markets and negotiate with Asian and European countries.

Cristina spoke following President Jair Bolsonaro's speech at the World Economic Forum being held in Davos, Switzerland, in which the president underscored the importance of agriculture for Brazil's economy and his intention to boost trade.

"President Bolsonaro used the Davos forum to show the importance of our agribusiness and his respect for the environment. Now, we have to make the most of his initiative to head missions in Asia and Europe to expand our trade," said Cristina.

In Asia, "we have the potential to attract new importers for our products," she added.

In Europe, the trade mission aims to negotiate with countries, such as France, that are taking steps to restrict the entry of Brazilian agricultural raw materials, she said.