Carolina Pimentel
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Paris (France) - At the opening of the colloquium "Brazil: Global Actor," at the University of the Sorbonne, in Paris, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reiterated that South American integration is one of Brazil's foreign policy priorities. "No other Brazilian Administration pursued approximation with our neighbors with such intensity," he told his audience of students and faculty members.

Lula said that the idea is for all South American countries to receive financing for at least one infrastructure project next year from the Brazilian National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES). He recalled that the policy of collaborating in the development of neighboring countries has already been the object of criticism.

According to Lula, the countries [of South America] are forming a consciousness not to depend any longer upon the promises of richer nations. He announced that on Friday (15) he will sign an agreement with the president of France, Jacques Chirac, for the construction of a bridge over the Oiapoque River to link the northern Brazilian state of Amapá and French Guiana.

Translation: David Silberstein