Off the wire
• South American trade bloc divided over Venezuela's presidency  • Tokyo shares close higher by break on BOE stimulus plan  • Brazil's former nuclear head sentenced to 43 years in prison for corruption  • Singapore forms new independent bureau to investigate air, marine accidents  • Bolivia reassures church same-sex marriage still unlawful  • Interview: THAAD deployment short-sighted for Seoul: Russian expert  • Chinese basketballers feel no pressure against defending champions USA  • Xinhua G20 summit news advisory at 0200 GMT, Aug. 5  • Mexico not responsible for drop in U.S. manufacturing jobs: minister  • Xinhua China news advisory -- Aug. 5  
You are here: 　 Home

Argentina, Brazil agriculture ministers stress solidarity

Xinhua, August 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Argentine and Brazilian agriculture ministers on Thursday stressed like-mindedness at a time when their regional trade bloc is being rocked by ideological differences.

"The two countries have a common destiny," said Argentine Agriculture Minister Ricardo Buryaile.

His Brazilian counterpart, Blairo Maggi, echoed that sentiment, saying the feeling is mutual.

The two ministers, who met on Thursday, made the remarks in the context that their countries, along with Paraguay, are unhappy with Venezuela taking over the six-month presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), which groups Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Venezuela was supposed to take over the presidency of Mercosur on Monday.

Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay believed that Venezuela's current political crisis means the country is not positioned to assume presidency.

Uruguay, however, maintains that the alphabetical order must be followed and Venezuela must take over the rotating presidency from it as planned. It also rejected a proposal by Buenos Aires that Argentina, being next in line, should take over the presidency.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is facing a recall referendum spearheaded by the opposition. Endi