Bolivia, Venezuela ink strategic alliance accord

The governments of Bolivia and Venezuela signed an agreement on Sunday to consolidate their strategic bilateral alliance. Ministers from both countries contributed to drafting the mega-agreement, which outlines 22 measures in five pivotal fields, and was then endorsed by Bolivian President Evo Morales and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro. The two heads of state called for prioritizing the agreement's objectives in the areas of food, education, culture, energy, textiles and communications. The agreement marked the conclusion of the second meeting of the Bolivia-Venezuela Joint Integration Committee, which had been convening since Friday in the Bolivian city of Tiquipaya, in central Cochabamba, to discuss such matters as healthcare, education, communication, sports, defense and security, culture, tourism, energy and fuel, among others. The leaders also signed a joint declaration on the work carried out by their respective ministries in diverse sectors. Venezuela's Maduro also expressed his support for the reform process in Bolivia and called on Bolivians to remain united in tackling the challenges facing the democratic cultural revolution spearheaded by Morales. "There must also be cohesion between the armed forces and the government, as the backbone of a revolutionary process," said Maduro. The two leaders agreed to have the joint committee meet every three months to follow up on the agreements reached.