Argentine President makes state visit to Brazil

By invitation of President Michel Temer, Argentine President Mauricio Macri will make a State Visit to Brazil on Tuesday (7). In addition to meeting with President Temer, Macri will be received by the Presidents of both houses of congress and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The state visit takes place at a time of special convergence in bilateral relations and will advance important initiatives for both countries in several areas, chiefly among which trade and investment, border security, border integration and development, science and technology and defence.

Argentina has just assumed the pro tempore presidency of MERCOSUR, on which it will be succeeded by Brazil in the second half of the year. The two presidents will address priorities to be observed so they may, together with all other partners of the bloc, recover the original spirit of MERCOSUR: free market and democracy. They will favour measures aimed at removing intra-MERCOSUR trade barriers and diversifying and invigorating the bloc's relations with partners in the region and beyond.

Buenos Aires was the destination of the two first bilateral visits of Temer and Brazil's Foreign Minister José Serra, a sign of the importance attached by Brazil to its relationship with Argentina. Brazil was also the first country visited by President Macri as President-elect.

Brazil is the main destination of Argentine exports and the main importer of products to the neighbouring country. Argentina is the second largest destination of Brazilian exports of manufactured products and Brazil's overall third largest trading partner.