Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gesture before a summit with presidents of South America to discuss the re-launching of the regional cooperation bloc UNASUR, in Brasilia, Brazil, May 29, 2023. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday defended increased economic, cultural and social integration of South American countries as he opened a summit of a dozen leaders of the region in Brasilia.
Lula said development banks should work together to finance regional development and suggested coordinated actions by the countries to tackle climate change.
