Lula and Luís Arce discuss greater cooperation and integration between Brazil and Bolivia

On his trip to Montevideo, Uruguay, where he is participating in the 65th Mercosur Heads of State Summit, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, on Thursday night (5). The Andean country participates for the first time as a full member of the bloc, after making its membership official in August this year.

As reported by the Presidency of the Republic, in the conversation, they discussed cooperation agreements and integration projects between the two countries.

The Bolivian and Brazilian presidents highlighted the possibility of Brazil’s contribution to strategic infrastructure works for Bolivia, especially in areas such as the production and distribution of gas and electricity.

Also read: Mercosur and European Union announce conclusion of trade agreement

Through social media, Arce declared: “This dialogue will strengthen our bonds of friendship, open new opportunities for joint development and greater opportunities for our peoples.”

The 65th Mercosur Summit marks the end of Uruguay’s rotating presidency and the transfer to Argentina. Bolivia participates for the first time as a full member of the bloc. With Bolivian inclusion, the bloc covers 73% of the territory of South America and represents around 65% of the population and 70% of the region’s GDP.

During the meeting, Panama will be officially integrated as an Associated State, becoming the first Central American country to obtain this status.

However, the main point of the meeting concerns the conclusion of an agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. This Friday morning, shortly before speaking at the summit meeting, Lula published a photo on social media alongside the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen and the presidents of Uruguay, Lacalle Poul; from Paraguay, Santiago Peña, and from Argentina, Javier Milei with the message: “After more than two decades, we have concluded negotiations on the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union”.

Advances in the Brazil-Bolivia relationship

In July, the two presidents met in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and also discussed these issues. At the time, one of the agreements signed aims to strengthen operations at the border to combat drug and human trafficking.

In addition to this issue, at that time, Lula highlighted that “Bolivian engagement is key to completing the set of routes that Brazil has called Quadrant Rondon. With the construction of the binational bridge over the Mamoré River, the transport of goods will become cheaper, benefiting in particular the states of Beni and Pando (in Bolivia) and Rondônia and Acre (in Brazil). Brazilian proposals to improve navigability in the Tamengo channel and the Paraguay River also aim to facilitate our connection.”

Also read: “He’s the most extraordinary person I’ve met”, says Lula when paying tribute to Mujica

Brazil and Bolivia maintain a close relationship, both politically, diplomatically and commercially. The main products of Brazil’s exports to Bolivia in 2023 were iron and steel bars, bars, angles and profiles (6.1%), other edible products and preparations (5.3%), other products from the manufacturing industry ( 4.8%), passenger cars (3.8%), petroleum or bituminous mineral fuel oils (3.8%).

The main products of Bolivia’s imports to Brazil in 2023 were: natural gas (86%); fertilizers or fertilizers (4.8%); other products from the extractive industry (2.6%); petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons (1.1%).

With agencies