Bolivia, Brazil and Chile have signed an agreement to create a corridor linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, according to reports reaching here on Monday.



Under the agreement signed by the presidents of the three countries on Sunday at Bolivia's government seat, the Quemado Palace, the road link will become operational in 2009.



The Bolivia stretch of the road totals 1,600 km, 75 percent of which is ready for use. The three unfinished parts that link Santa Cruz to Puerto Suarez, Oruro to Pisiga, and Santa Matias to Concepcion require 415 million U.S. dollars, 78 million dollars and 260 million dollars in investment respectively.



In Chile, two projects are under plan -- a 192-km road starting in Arica and another 216-km stretch linking Iquique to its eastern border with Bolivia.



Brazil will invest nearly 133 million dollars refurbishing astretch of highway that is already in use. A total of 2,225 km of existing road will be re-profiled as part of this corridor.



"I feel that this road is a vital artery" that allows integration and unification of towns in Chile, Bolivia and Brazil, Bolivian President Evo Morales said at the signing ceremony.



Chilean President Michelle Bachelet described the new link as a dynamic stream that "allows free flow of people and growing equality" among the countries.



Source: Xinhua