The president stressed that Brazil “is returning to the international scene” and promises to “strengthen” Mercosur
MADRID, 23 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has traveled to Argentina in what is his first trip abroad since he took office on January 1 and has stressed that among the main objectives of his visit is the “strengthening” of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).
“Good evening from Buenos Aires. Tomorrow will be a day of intense work to resume the partnership between Brazil and Argentina. One of the main markets for Brazilian industrial products, the third largest trading partner of Brazil”, said Lula da Silva through his account on the social network Twitter.
The president, who will also participate in the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), has advanced that both countries “are going to resume ties.” “Brazil is returning to the international scene and will act to strengthen Mercosur,” he pointed out.
In this sense, the Argentine Foreign Minister, Santiago Cafiero, stressed that “the relationship between Argentina and Brazil is reborn.” “Lula’s arrival in the country, on his first official visit abroad as the new president, is a great boost for our bilateral relationship and highlights his commitment to strengthening Mercosur and CELAC,” he said.
“Argentina began to design an Integration Agreement between the two countries in September 2022, a deep and broad State policy that will be a concrete action plan between presidents, ministers and ministers,” Cafiero highlighted.
During the day on Sunday, the Minister of Economy of Argentina, Sergio Massa, advanced in statements given to the ‘Financial Times’ that both governments will soon announce the preparations to launch a common currency project that could convert both countries, the two main economies South Americans, in the second largest currency bloc in the world.
The initial intention is that this new currency – whose name, Brazil proposes, is the south – will promote regional trade and reduce the impact of the dollar. In principle, both countries contemplate a period of simultaneous trade with the Brazilian real and the Argentine peso.
Brazil and Argentina have been discussing a common currency for years, but the talks have never come to fruition due to opposition from the Central Bank of Brazil. Under the government of the left in both countries, experts understand, in relation to Lula and the Argentine president, Alberto Fernández, there is greater political support for the project.