MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula da Silva and Chavez in Argentina to talk about trade

Lula met CFK at the Olivos presidential residential moments after arriving

Presidents Lula da Silva of Brazil and Hugo Chavez from arrived Sunday night in Buenos Aires where they will meet President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to discuss pending issues, such as trade relations between the three countries.

The Brazilian president arrived with a delegation of 250 businessmen, who are interested in achieving alliances with their Argentine counterparts and expanding investments. Brazil and Argentina have a strong bilateral trade and the two have developed a confluence of interests in foreign policy and trade affairs, both in Mercosur and in the international arena. Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said that the Brazilian visit had a business focus, "because one of the goals is to acquire enhanced know-how and to agree on common business initiatives". Taiana highlighted that this is a "continuation" of previous activities since "we already attended meetings (with businessmen) in Brazil and, on this occasion, the event is encouraged by Lula da Silva's visit". The president of the Argentine Industrial Union, UIA, Juan Carlos Lascurián and FIESP (Sao Paulo's Industrial Federation), Brazil's industrial lobby boss Paulo Skap are scheduled to give a speech Monday at a seminar on "Argentina-Brazil: a key productive alliance," which aims at developing bilateral businesses. Venezuela's Hugo Chávez is slated to meet President Fernández de Kirchner on Monday. A communiqué issued on Saturday by the Industrial Union of the Province of Buenos Aires, UIPBA, said that their meeting with Brazilian businessmen aims at "conquering new markets, attracting specific investment projects and also achieving cooperation agreements".