(3 July 2012) As part of the celebration of the 145th Meeting of CAF's (Latin American Development Bank) Board of Directors, held in Montevideo, a new interagency cooperation agreement among CAF, the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) for constituting the Latin America-Asia-Pacific Observatory was signed.
The Executive President of CAF Enrique García, the Executive Secretary of ECLAC Alicia Bárcena and the Secretary General of ALADI Carlos Álvarez attended the event. Furthermore, representatives of CAF's member countries joined the meeting as witnesses of honor before the Organization's Board of Directors.
The Executive President of CAF Enrique García stated at the end of the event that "the Observatory is a useful tool for CAF's member countries, as it provides them with systematized information to better understand the dynamics of Latin America-Asia-Pacific relations, allowing them, based on this understanding, to define their strategies for relating with the Asia-Pacific region and solidifying an increasingly important linkage for all stakeholders". Likewise, García stressed that the initiative reflects "CAF's commitment to regional integration and the sustainable development of countries".
The Executive Secretary of ECLAC Alicia Bárcena, in turn, claimed that "the project, besides fulfilling its purpose of disseminating information on the linkages between both regions, should be constituted in a such a manner that the efforts of the three organizations and the governments of the region are gathered, with a view to establish a linkage with Asia coordinating economic dynamism, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. These terms are completely consistent with the transcendental proposal made by China to the region a few days ago in our headquarters - concretely by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao".
Secretary General of ALADI Carlos Álvarez pointed out that "the relationship with Asia-Pacific, currently the most economically dynamic region in the world, brings strategic challenges both regarding development models in our countries and our integration into world economy". Álvarez highlighted that "we are facing a major shift in the world order in terms of politics, with the fall of a single-pole political world, and from the trade point of view, relations moving from the North the South as South-South relations increase".
The objective of the Observatory is to introduce a systematic, plural and interdisciplinary perspective of the economic relations between Latin American and Asian-Pacific countries, and promote cooperation and linkages between both regions. It is an information and analysis tool expected to become a consultation reference for governments, enterprises and the academic sector, which could, in turn, contribute to its enhancement.
For further questions, please contact:
CAF, Strategic Communications Direction, infocaf@caf.com
Montevideo, Uruguay Tel.: +598 2710 7721
ECLAC's Public Information and Web Services Section.
E-mail: prensa@cepal.org; tel.: (56 2) 210 2040
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