Uruguay President Jose Mujica made a visit to the White House on Monday and sat down with President Barack Obama to discuss the cultural and economic ties between the U.S. and South America.

However, prior to the meeting, Mujica, who was dressed more casually, not sporting a tie, lectured President Obama about America's high smoking rate and the necessity to become more bilingual, Time Magazine reported.

"We live in a time when we need to learn English — yes, or yes?" he asked. "And you will have to become a bilingual country. Because the strength of Latin women is admirable and they will fill this country with people who speak Spanish and Portuguese, too."

Mujica also brought up Uruguay's ongoing litigation with Philip Morris, a tobacco company which is suing the country for $2 billion regarding his nation's strict anti-smoking laws.

The lawsuit was filed at the World Bank's International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes after Uruguay implemented a 2009 law that placed graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. Phillip Morris argues that those graphics violate intellectual property rights, the Hill reported.

In Uruguay, $2 billion equals 4 percent of the country's annual gross domestic product. Mujica is regarded as the world's "poorest president" as he drives a old Volkswagen Beetle and lives on a small family chrysanthemum farm outside of Montevideo instead of a presidential palace.

"Mr. President, who is speaking is an old smoker," Mujica said. "But in the world, per year, eight million people are dying from smoking. And that is more than World War I, World War II. It's murder. We are in an arduous fight — very arduous — and we must fight against very strong interests. Governments must not be involved in private litigation, but here we're fighting for life."

The 78-year-old former guerrilla fighter, who also has a reputation for regularly speaking his mind, also commented on Obama's hair.

"The first thing he said to me is that my hair has become much grayer," Obama said.