Sucre, 7 August 2022 (TDI): On August 6, the Mexican Foreign Minister; Marcelo Ebrard was part of the Bolivian celebrations for the 197th Anniversary of the National Day. The Bolivian President, Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, extended the invitation to Ebrard to be the honorary guest.
The Anniversary celebrations took place in Plaza 25 de Mayo in Sucre; which is the constitutional capital of Bolivia. First, Ebrard participated in the ancestral offering ceremony to Pachamama.
According to the Ministry, the Andean cultures celebrate this ceremony in August. Moreover, the objective of the ceremony is to strengthen and restore the bond of reciprocity between humanity and the earth.
As the representative of Mexico, Ebrard also participated in other events of the Bolivian National Day. According to the Ministry, Ebrard also laid a wreath to honor the memory of the Sucre Marshal; and participated in the session which took place in the Liberty House.
Furthermore, the invitation to participate as an honorary guest is proof of the relations between both. According to the Ministry; the invitation was also an act of deference towards Mexico for the solidarity with which the country has acted in favor of the Bolivian constitutional order.
An additional reason was to express the willingness to strengthen their bilateral relationship; with an agenda that includes cooperation, trade, and investment.
After the activities that Ebrard has on the agenda, he will then travel to Bogota, Colombia. In Bogota, Ebrard will attend the Presidential Transmission of Command Ceremony. Ebrard announced the creation of an electric car alongside Bolivia; which will be more affordable and will arrive on market in 2023.
MEXICO-BOLIVIA RELATIONS
Both countries were part of the Spanish Empire. Shortly after the two countries declared independence, they established diplomatic relations. In 1831, Mexico sent its first Ambassador to Bolivia based in Argentina.
In 1902, Mexico opened its first consulate-general in La Paz. 32 years later, Bolivia opened its first diplomatic mission in Mexico City. Later in 1939, Mexico and Bolivia raised their diplomatic missions to embassies.
After a period of tense moments in their bilateral relationship, in 1963; President Víctor Paz Estenssoro became the first Bolivian head-of-state to visit Mexico. In 1990, Carlos Salinas de Gortari became the first Mexican President to visit Bolivia.
Both countries had once again a tense period in their relationship due to the 2019 elections in Bolivia. The former President, Evo Morales, lost the support of the military and the police. The Mexican Government offered asylum, and the interim Bolivian government responded by intimidating Mexican diplomats.
Since the victory of the current President, Luis Arce, their bilateral relations became friendly again. Arce visited Mexico in 2021 to meet the Mexican President.
WHAT TO SEE IN BOLIVIA?
Bolivia is a country that holds several natural and cultural surprises for any tourist to see. The tourist can visit the Salar of Uyuni, the North Yungas Road, the Laguna Colorada, Tiwanaku, Huayna Potosi, the Witches Market; the Madidi National Park, the Green Lagoon, and Illimani Mountain.
Further destinations are Incahuasi Island, Amboro National Park, Puma Punku, Train Cemetery, Moon Valley, Condoriri, and more.
BOLIVIAN NATIONAL DAY
Bolivia celebrates its independence day on August 6; which is the culmination of the process by which was created the Republic of Bolivia as an independent country. Their current territories received the colonial name of Audience of Charcas.
The rioplatenses and Peruvians such as Alto Perú. The viceroy of Peru joined its territory with the Audience of Charcas to contain the independence efforts. After several battles, the realist side obtained independence for the territories.
The Sucre Commander entered the territories of Alto Peru on August 6, 1825. It was due to a decree that the newly independent state would bear the name of Bolivar, to honor the Liberator. Bolivar also received the designation of Father of the Republic and Supreme Head of State; which he then declined.
