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Venezuela inaugurates $1bn bridge | Venezuela inaugurates $1bn bridge |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The presidents of Venezuela and Brazil have inaugurated a $1.2bn (£0.63bn) bridge over Venezuela's Orinoco River. | The presidents of Venezuela and Brazil have inaugurated a $1.2bn (£0.63bn) bridge over Venezuela's Orinoco River. |
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Brazil's Lula da Silva have recently lined up a series of big infrastructure projects which benefit Brazil's industry. | Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Brazil's Lula da Silva have recently lined up a series of big infrastructure projects which benefit Brazil's industry. |
Venezuela now has a second bridge crossing the massive waterway that slices through the country. | Venezuela now has a second bridge crossing the massive waterway that slices through the country. |
The 3km (1.8-mile) bridge will make it quicker for Brazilian goods to reach Venezuela's Caribbean sea ports. | The 3km (1.8-mile) bridge will make it quicker for Brazilian goods to reach Venezuela's Caribbean sea ports. |
Political move | Political move |
In the sweltering midday heat Mr Chavez and President Lula da Silva officially opened the bridge at Puerto Ordaz - one of the biggest built during Mr Chavez' seven years in office. | |
The bridge was completed in July and some Brazilian newspapers said the inauguration ceremony was deliberately delayed for four months to coincide with Mr Chavez's campaign to be re-elected. | The bridge was completed in July and some Brazilian newspapers said the inauguration ceremony was deliberately delayed for four months to coincide with Mr Chavez's campaign to be re-elected. |
Some Brazilian commentators argue that by visiting Venezuela now, Lula is lending his support to his friend's re-election bid. | Some Brazilian commentators argue that by visiting Venezuela now, Lula is lending his support to his friend's re-election bid. |
However, Brazilian industry has benefited greatly from contracts with Venezuela. | However, Brazilian industry has benefited greatly from contracts with Venezuela. |
Firms from Brazil were hired to build new underground train lines in Caracas, as well as a third bridge to be built over the Orinoco. | Firms from Brazil were hired to build new underground train lines in Caracas, as well as a third bridge to be built over the Orinoco. |
But Brazil's leader was careful not to sound too complimentary of his Venezuelan counterpart. | But Brazil's leader was careful not to sound too complimentary of his Venezuelan counterpart. |
Lula warned Mr Chavez that the people of Venezuela would be a lot more demanding of him this time round, if he were elected for a third time in December. | Lula warned Mr Chavez that the people of Venezuela would be a lot more demanding of him this time round, if he were elected for a third time in December. |
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