Rousseff advocates closer cooperation in Latin America
Quito - President Rousseff during a meeting with Ecuador President Rafael Correa
President Dilma Rousseff has reiterated the need to enhance economic and trade cooperation between Latin American and Caribbean countries to help them “meet the challenges posed by the economic crisis more quickly.”
Rousseff's remarks were made following a meeting with Ecuador President Rafael Correa. She is in Quito, Ecuador, for the 4th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) today (Jan. 27).
“We thought about the complex international economic situation and its worrying effects on our countries and the whole region, particularly the impact of falling prices of such commodities as oil, ores, grain, and China's economic slowdown with a transition from an investment and infrastructure-based model to another model, driven by consumption and services,” the president said.
Bilateral relations
According to Rousseff, Brazil and Ecuador agreed to further their relations so they could provide a “bridge” in the path to overcoming their current challenges.
Rousseff mentioned projects within the bilateral cooperation, highlighting the multimodal Mantas-Manaus route linking Ecuador's Pacific coast to Brazil's Amazon region with ports and highways.
Zika virus
Talking about the warning of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Zika virus circulation in the Americas, Rousseff said it has raised concern among all Latin American leaders, vowing Brazil's government will put all-out effort into eradicating virus-bearing mosquitoes. Besides Zika virus, Aedes aegypti is a vector for dengue and chikungunya viruses. “We're going on a house-to-house [mosquito control] battle,” she said.
The president flies back to Brazil today. Tomorrow (28), she will attend a meeting of the Council for Economic and Social Development (CDES), known as the “Conselhão” (“the big council”), made up of ministers and representatives from civil society, the business community, and trade unions.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Rousseff advocates closer cooperation in Latin America
