Joint Declaration signed by President Evo Morales (Bolivia) and President Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)

At the invitation of the president of the Republic of Bolivia, the Honorable Mr Evo Morales Ayma, the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Honorable Mr Hugo Chavez Frias, paid a visit to the city of El Alto, department of La Paz, in the sister Republic of Bolivia on March 10, 2007.

During this opportunity, both head of states ratified their backing of the Bolivarian Alternatives of the People of Our America (ALBA) and the Peoples’ Trade Agreement (TCP), making a special emphasis on the principals of solidarity, mutual aid and cooperation between peoples, without any business profits or mercantile interests, contained in the “Agreement for the Application of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America and the Peoples Trade Agreement”, signed in La Habana on April 29. 2006.

As the result of a broad and fraternal dialogue, the presidents agreed to sign the following Joint Declaration, which establishes to:

1. Reinforce in the least time possible, the implementation of the “Agreement for the Application of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America and the Peoples Trade Agreement” signed in La Habana on April 29, 2006, above all those concerning articles 2, 5, 6 and 9. In order to do that, both governments committed themselves to setting up a Bi-national High Level Committee for the Execution and Monitoring of ALBA and TCP, which will allow the speeding up of the creation of bi-national or mixed companies, with the aim of carrying out projects of mutual benefit in the following areas:
Wood: processing and production of primary material for the elaboration of construction supplies, taking into consideration a production chain with is broadly sustainable.
Telecommunications: creation of a bi-national space satellite.
Mining: promote the development of bi-national projects.
Energy: generation of energy, starting from making use of gas, in agreement with what was stipulated in the Energy Agreement of Caracas.
Cement: establishment of a cement processing plant.
Tourism: creation of a tri-national company with the participation of the Republics of Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela, with the aim of setting up tourism programs with a shared destination.
Airline of the South: agreement between national airlines.
Trade: assume all the necessary measures to facilitate trade between both countries.
Governmental purchases: promote the opening up of Venezuelan state acquisitions to exportable Bolivian offers, in particular small producers.

2. Both governments committed themselves to combining efforts for the Convocation of the Congress of Governments and Peoples with the aim of promoting this new model of transformational integration. For this purpose, an organising committee will be constituted, which will be entrusted with guaranteeing resources and working on the basic documents for this event, which will have its headquarters in the Republic of Bolivia.

3. On the other hand, both presidents dialogued over the humanitarian aid received by Bolivia as a result of the grave climatic phenomena which occurred here, during which President Chavez reiterated the entire disposition of the Venezuelan people to lend all the help necessary. At the same time, President Morales, in the name of the Bolivian people, gave thanks for all the solidarity and aid given by the Venezuelan people on the occasion of the strong storms and floods that occurred in the departments of Beni and Santa Cruz.

4. Finally, President Chavez thanked his Bolivian counterpart for the hospitality he and his delegation received during their visit.

In the city of El Alto on the tenth day of the month of March, two thousand and seven.

Signed the presidents of the Republic of Bolivia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela