Following a meeting of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the President of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner, at the Palácio do Planalto, Wednesday, January 18, it was announced that the two presidents will have regular meetings twice a year in the future.
According to Lula, successful cooperation requires close relations in order to ensure that what is agreed on is complied with.
"The Brazil-Argentina relationship calls for ever closer ties so we have decided to have regular, twice yearly meetings…. The advances we have achieved – in the areas of science and technology, industry, labor, health, military affairs, culture, sports and border communities – would be impossible without a partnership that is based on solid economic ties."
Lula also praised Kirchner for his strong leadership in dealing with the problems of Argentina.
The construction of a gas pipeline extending over 10,000 kilometers, running from Venezuela, through Brazil to Argentina, will be the chief topic of discussion when the presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Néstor Kirchner and Hugo Chávez meet today in Brasilia.
Last December the three presidents set up a commission to study the project which will cost between US$ 17 billion and US$ 25 billion and take six years to complete.
The multilateral commission has ruled that the project is viable. Once it is completed it will be capable of transporting some 150 million cubic meters of gas per day.
ABr