According to Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou, the meeting with President Lula (PT) was divided into two parts, where topics such as infrastructure between the countries and negotiations on Mercosur were discussed.| Photo: Gastón Britos/EFE

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) met this Wednesday (25) with Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou in Montevideo, Uruguay, to discuss the commercial interests of both countries. One of Lula’s (PT) goals is to dissuade Lacalle Pou from giving continuity to negotiations for trade agreements underway with countries like China and New Zealand.

According to the Uruguayan president, the meeting was divided into two parts, where topics such as infrastructure and negotiations on Mercosur were discussed. One of the projects discussed was the waterway between the Lagoa Mirim basin, on the border between Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay, and Lagos dos Patos, in Rio Grande do Sul, and the dredging of the channel in Brazilian territory.

According to the Uruguayan representative, this is a work with a lower economic cost, but of great importance for the region and both countries. “We had already been working on this project with the previous government and we intend to conclude this negotiation with the current government”, stated the Uruguayan president.

Also discussed was the proposal for works on the Barão de Mauá International Bridge, which connects the cities of Jaguarão (RS), on the Brazilian side, and Rio Branco, on the Uruguayan side, so that the structure can support greater traffic in cargo transport. The representatives also discussed the possibility of transforming the airport in the city of Rivera, Uruguay, into a binational international airport soon.