LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, BOLIVIA ¨C In the tropical Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a wealthy farming hub on the edge on the Amazon rainforest, President Evo Morales gathered with ranchers late last month to celebrate a maiden shipment of beef to China.
An elaborate ceremony was staged to mark what was supposed to be a crowning achievement in Morales¡¯ plan to make Bolivia a global foods supplier ¡ª entry to China¡¯s massive market just as Beijing shops around for alternatives to U.S. producers.
¡°This is just another tool to ensure we continue growing economically,¡± said Bolivia¡¯s first indigenous president, who often goes by the name ¡°Evo,¡± at the Aug. 28 event. The country plans to send 8,000 tons of beef to China next year, he added.
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