Rubio meets Bolivian president-elect at State Department to strengthen ties

​​​​​​​By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Friday with Bolivia’s President-Elect Rodrigo Paz Pereira to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations, the State Department said in a statement.

Rubio underscored the US’ “commitment to a strong partnership with Bolivia rooted in mutual prosperity,” it said.

The two leaders discussed ways to “broaden and deepen the U.S.-Bolivia relationship for the benefit of the citizens of both nations,” it added.

, Paz of the center-right Christian Democratic Party (PDC) won a presidential runoff election with 54.5% of the vote, defeating conservative rival and former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, who received 45.4%, according to results.

Paz, 58, is set to be sworn in on Nov. 8, ending nearly two decades of rule by the leftist Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party.