Wall Street Journal | January 31, 2011 | Taos Turner
BUENOS AIRES—The presidents of Argentina and Brazil signed a broad range of agreements Monday to cooperate on everything from nuclear power development to broadband expansion and regional pharmaceutical standards.
In her first state visit abroad, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner to underscore the importance of political and economic ties between the countries.
The presidents, who touted the meeting as a historical event between two women who lead South American nations, pledged to build literal and figurative bridges between the nations.
Among other things, they will work together to promote the development of biofuels in the region, share research on two new 30-megawatt nuclear reactors, exchange electricity and boost broadband access in the region.
In addition, the presidents said they will work together on common pharmaceutical goals that should help the counties to reduce their “dependence” on imported drugs from other regions.
Meanwhile, the cooperation in nuclear research on the new reactors will be based on a reactor that the Argentine technology company Invap produced for Australia.
The multipurpose reactors will allow for joint work on radioisotopes and food irradiation, among other things.
The countries will also build a new international bridge that crosses the Pepiri-Guazu river to connect the cities of San Pedro in Argentina and Paraiso in Brazil.
Ms. Rousseff, a 62-year old former leftist guerilla, was elected Brazil’s first woman president last October after serving as a cabinet minister in the government of her predecessor, the immensely popular Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. It was the first time Ms. Rousseff had run for elective office.
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