Lula and Dina Boluarte, president of Peru, discuss the potential of Amazonian biodiversity

In a meeting yesterday evening (August 7), in Belém (in the Brazilian state of Pará), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and President of Peru Dina Boluarte discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations and the union of Amazon countries around the common interests of protecting the rainforest and improving the quality of life of the people who live in it.

The Brazilian president highlighted the importance of Amazon countries – all belonging to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) – having a firm stance and working together on a single commitment. Lula also included in this group other countries with large tropical rainforests such as the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia. The three African and Asian countries were invited to the Amazon Summit which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 8 and 9, in the capital of the state of Pará.

Lula once again defended that any policies for the development of the Amazon take into account the preservation of the rainforest and the improvement of life conditions of the almost 50 million people who live in the region.

The president expressed interest in deepening relations with Peru in the spheres of economy, politics, culture, education, science and technology; defended the reactivation of Unasur; and stated that integration between South American countries is fundamental for better global geopolitical insertion.

The president of Peru was authorized to come to the Summit by the country's Congress – and is the only woman among the leaders of Amazon countries. Dina Boluarte supported the Brazilian president's initiative to reestablish dialogue and strengthen cooperation among countries in the region — and to seek alternatives to fight famine and poverty and encourage sustainable development, studying the potential of biodiversity.