“There are many important issues and many coincidences related to the great fatherland and we are sure that this will be consolidated,” Deputy Minister of Communications Gabriela Alcón said in statements to the press.
The head of state will conduct an intensive program in Brazil in connection with the inauguration of his colleague, sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.
Arce will share the agenda with at least 20 heads of state and government this January 1st, will be welcomed by Brazilian diplomacy and will attend the National Congress ceremony where the elected dignitary will be sworn in.
Diplomatic sources told Prensa Latina that the head of state of the highland state will be present to welcome the new statesman in front of at least 120 delegations from different continents and finally to the social reception.
The South American giant is a strategic trading partner of Bolivia, but during Jair Bolsonaro’s government these links slowed down due to the former right-wing military’s political-ideological differences with the Evo Morales government (2006-2019), and thus Arce.
After Lula’s election victory, the current Bolivian president projected the strengthening of integration ties with the colossus of Latin America.
The Foreign Ministry sources emphasized that Brazil is Bolivia’s main trading partner for gas sales and that they are also joined by an important project for regional integration such as the construction of the bio-oceanic corridor.
Other matters of common concern include the highland country’s accession to the Southern Common Market, the rebuilding of the Union of Southern Nations, and the strengthening of the Immigration Status Program, the latter of great importance given that more than 500,000 Bolivians reside in Brazil.
According to international media, Argentine President Alberto Fernández will be present at the ceremony at the Planalto Palace on the first day of 2023; from Bolivia, Luis Arce, from Chile, Gabriel Boric; and the Vice President of Cuba, Salvador Valdés.
The Presidents will also be present: Guillermo Lasso (Ecuador), Irfaan Ali (Guyana); Mario Abdo Benítez (Paraguay), Gustavo Petro (Colombia) and Luis Lacalle Pou (Uruguay).
Before leaving for the United States, still President Jair Bolsonaro reversed a decree banning Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from entering Brazilian territory, for which his presence is expected in possession of Lula da Silva, the sources told Latin Press.
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