Brazilian president says to maintain pragmatic ties with Argentina

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said his country will maintain "pragmatic" relations with Argentina's new government, the state news agency Agencia Brazil reported on Wednesday.

"Our relations with Argentina will be pragmatic. We have a good commercial relationship and, as far as I am concerned, we will continue to have it," Bolsonaro told reporters in the northern city of Manaus, days before the inauguration of Argentina's president-elect Alberto Fernandez.

There is concern that relations between the two South American countries may hit rough patches after Argentine presidential election in late October, during which Fernandez defeated incumbent President Mauricio Macri.

Bolsonaro had cooperated closely with Macri and openly supported him during the election. 

Earlier this month, the Brazilian president said he will not attend Fernandez's swearing-in ceremony on Dec 10.