OREANDA-NEWS. July 24, 2014. On the sidelines of the just-concluded BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, Bolivian President Evo Morales met with Russian President Vladimir Putin who offered to cooperate with Bolivia on the development of a "comprehensive nuclear energy program" for peaceful purposes.

Morales also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and reported afterward that China will be building Bolivia's second satellite. China's Great Wall Industry Corporation built Bolivia's first satellite, Tupac Katari, which was launched from China in December of 2013, provoking great excitement and pride among the Bolivian population.

To date, Argentina has been working closely with Bolivia on nuclear energy, and is training Bolivian nuclear engineers at its Balseiro Institute. France is also collaborating.

Bolivia's Finance Minister Luis Arce told EFE news service that the comprehensive nuclear program offered by Russia would include technology transfer and permanent training of Bolivian personnel at various stages of the program. "Putin is very willing to offer cooperation ... understanding that Bolivia is just starting to take its first steps [in this area.]" Russia is also willing to help build hydroelectric and thermoelectric plants, and executives from Russian firms will be visiting Bolivia very soon to discuss this.

Representatives from Russia's Rosneft oil firm are also expected to visit Bolivia soon to discuss investment in Bolivian oil projects.