President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said, this Monday (26th), that Brazil and Argentina adopted almost 100 actions to “give concreteness” to the joint development project of the two countries. According to Lula, the Brazilian government is also working on creating a “comprehensive line of financing” for Brazilian exports to Argentina. “Today we adopted an ambitious plan of action for the relaunch of the strategic alliance”, said Lula next to the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasília. The Argentine’s state visit takes place at Lula’s invitation in the context of the celebration of 200 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Argentina was the first country to recognize independence and establish relations with Brazil, on June 25, 1823. “We reaffirm today that integration is a State policy and that our partnership must be cultivated at the highest level. Our economic integration means interdependence”, said Lula. “We built a relationship based on the exchange of high value-added goods and the productive integration of our economies. Our reciprocal investments are responsible for almost one hundred thousand jobs”, highlighted the president. Lula also said that he was very satisfied with the positive perspectives of financing from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for the export of products for the construction of the Presidente Néstor Kirchner Gas Pipeline. Argentina has supported the proposal to build a gas pipeline between the shale gas reserves (shale) from Vaca Muerta to Brazil. “It doesn’t make sense that Brazil loses space in the Argentine market to other countries because they offer credit and we don’t. Everyone has to gain, Brazilian companies and workers and Argentine consumers”, added Lula, regarding the creation of a financing line for Brazilian exports to Argentina. During his brief speech, Lula spoke again about the adoption of a specific reference currency for regional trade, to reduce operating costs and dependence on foreign currencies. “We need to move in that direction. [ampliação do intercâmbio comercial], with new and creative solutions that allow greater financial integration and facilitate our exchanges”, he said. Argentina is Brazil’s third largest trading partner. In 2022, Brazilian exports to Argentina reached US$ 15.3 billion. Imports of Argentine products, in turn, reached US$ 13 billion. Decoration In the early afternoon, the president received Fernández at the Planalto Palace. Following the private meeting, the two went to lunch at the Itamaraty Palace. Lula decorated Fernández with the Great Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, given to foreign personalities worthy of the recognition of the Brazilian nation. The president also awarded the first lady of Argentina, Fabíola Yañez, with the Order of Rio Branco. “Both are representatives of a nation for which we Brazilians have respect and affection and who honor us on this very special date”, said the Brazilian president. This is the fifth meeting of the two leaders in 2023. In addition to Lula’s inauguration, in January, in Brasília, the Brazilian president made an official visit to Argentina in his first international trip in this third term. On that occasion, on January 23, a joint declaration with multiple commitments was signed. Fernández, on the other hand, came twice to Brasília, in May, once to meet directly with president Lula and another to participate in the summit of South American presidents. Brazil’s biggest trading partner in South America, Argentina is facing a serious economic crisis, with the devaluation of the local currency, loss of purchasing power and high inflation rates. A historic drought also affects Argentina’s grain crops, deepening the crisis and jeopardizing the goals agreed by the country with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for debt payments. Lula has articulated initiatives to help the neighboring country, mainly to avoid a drop in Brazilian exports. Last month, in Japan, the Brazilian spoke with the director general of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, about the economic situation in Argentina, in addition to seeking support from the Brics, an economic bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. South.
Agência Brasil
Folha Nobre - Desde 2013 - ©