“Bolivia and Brazil strengthen diplomatic ties with new agenda”

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Bolivia and Brazil boost their bilateral relations with a new agenda

La Paz, May 4 (EFE).- The visit of the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, to Bolivia this Thursday was a boost for diplomatic relations between the two countries with a renewed bilateral agenda that includes issues such as hydrocarbons, energy, security, defense , trade and regional integration, among others. The Bolivian Foreign Minister, Rogelio Mayta, received Vieira at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in La Paz for a meeting that sought to “comply with the mandate of presidents Luis Arce and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to strengthen, relaunch and deepen relations bilateral agreements,” said the Bolivian minister. Mayta maintained that Bolivia and Brazil “are not only brother countries because of a border of more than 3,000 kilometers, but also because of a common past and recent political history.” According to the Bolivian foreign minister, in both countries, popular “democratic strength and conviction” prevailed “in the face of authoritarian, racist, and discriminatory projects that opted to evade the poorest, destroy popular unity, and progress toward social justice.” . The visit of the Brazilian delegation allowed “advancing in the definition of a road map that establishes and prioritizes the specific bilateral and multilateral agenda,” he highlighted. “With the reactivation of the bilateral dialogue mechanisms, the different committees and mixed commissions will get to work this month on issues of border, road and rail integration, water resources and navigation, the fight against smuggling and organized crime, cooperation in security and defense, among other issues,” he added. In his turn, the Brazilian minister highlighted the coincidences between the governments of Arce and Lula da Silva in terms of social inclusion, sustainable development, the environment, and regional and bilateral integration. “Brazil and Bolivia are historical partners. For us, this visit has a special character, since it represents an important step towards the full resumption of the bilateral relationship that has been so affected in recent years, to return to being in line with the long history of friendship that we keep Brazilians and Bolivians,” said Vieira. NEW MEETINGS The Brazilian Foreign Minister ratified the invitation for Arce to participate in the Summit of the Countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) scheduled for August 8 and 9 in the Brazilian city of Belén, in the Amazon state from to. He also invited Arce to participate in a meeting of South American presidents announced by the Brazilian president for next May 30 in Brasilia. “The objective of this important meeting will be to create the opportunity for the frank exchange of perspectives that will pave the way towards a renewed South American integration,” Vieira stressed. The diplomat also reiterated “Brazil’s commitment to act positively in the process” to complete Bolivia’s full entry into Mercosur. Brazil also recognized “the importance of Bolivia’s natural gas exports” which contributes to “Brazilian energy security and generates income and development for the Bolivian State.” While Mayta reported that both countries proposed to “increase commercial and economic exchange” and study “joint opportunities” in gas, biofuels, fertilizers, among others. Vieira also made courtesy visits to the country’s vice president, David Choquerhuanca, and to President Arce, who highlighted that meeting on his social networks. “We are going to deepen our bilateral relations around a broad integration agenda in energy, border, trade, consular and other matters,” Arce wrote. Arce’s government and her party, the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), have a political affinity with Lula da Silva, who in her first two presidential terms also had former President Evo Morales (2006-2019) as an ally. (c) EFE Agency