Brasilia, Oct 1 (IANS) Brazil and Paraguay have agreed to resume full cooperation ties and strengthening of their historic regional alliance, as Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met her Paraguayan counterpart Horacio Cartes Monday in Brasilia.
At a joint press conference after the meeting, Rousseff said it was Brazil’s third bilateral meeting with Paraguay, which is home to the third largest community of Brazilians living abroad and which shares with Brazil the Itaipu hydroelectric dam on the border, Xinhua reported.
“President Cartes brought important news on the advanced progress made in the Itaipu transmission-line works on the outskirts of (Paraguay’s capital) Asuncion,” said Rousseff, adding the lines were expected to begin operating in November.
The Itaipu project, financed through a Structural Convergence Fund operated by regional trade bloc Mercosur (Southern Common Market), aims to draw investment to Paraguay and spur the industrialization and integration of productive chains.
“We also talked about our social policies. We are on a common path towards reducing inequalities through (income transference) programs Family Pocketbook and Brazil Without Misery in Brazil and Generating Opportunities in Paraguay,” Rousseff said.