RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday published an official statement, detailing the Brazilian government's goals for its temporary Mercosur presidency, which started on Wednesday and will last for six months.
President Jair Bolsonaro took over the rotating presidency of the bloc from Argentinian President Mauricio Macri earlier in the day, in the Mercosur Summit in Santa Fe, Argentina. In Bolsonaro's speech, he highlighted the importance of dealing with issues such as the Mercosur common tariff and foreign relations of the bloc members.
"The Brazilian presidency, which will last until the end of this semester, takes place at the moment of construction of a new Mercosur ... The agreement with the European Union is evidence of this new moment in Mercosur," the Foreign Ministry stated.
The ministry reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to democratic values and open regionalism, adding Brazil vowed to "adopt a pragmatic approach that will deliver concrete results to citizens."
"During its presidency, Brazil will seek to preserve and strengthen the lines of action adopted during the Argentinian mandate, to intensify the negotiation of external trade agreements, reduce the common external tariff and continue efforts to rationalize the operation of the bloc, with a reduction of costs and bureaucracy," the ministry said.
