Latin left and right look to greater cooperation, at summit
A smiling Hugo Chavez is feted by leaders from across Latin America. And across the political spectrum.
The Venezuelan president is playing host to the first ever summit of the Community of Latin American and Carribean States.
Leaders - like Colombia's rightist Juan Manuel Santos - used the opportunity to call for greater economic co-operation between the 33-nation block.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT
"We need to encourage investment between countries. We don't have to rely on Europe and the U.S. We have the capacity to invest, to innovate, to create - If we work together, if we focus on integration."
That sentiment was echoed by Brazil's Dilma Roussef, on the moderate left.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DILMA ROUSSEFF, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT
"The time has come for us to be sure that we have all the conditions to create an expansive political and economic agreement for our region."
The countries of CELAC are home to nearly 600 million people and comprise the world's number one food exporter.
The summit has brought together a divergent group of leaders, from right-wingers like Santos to Raul Castro, president of Communist Cuba.
Andrew Raven, Reuters
The Venezuelan president is playing host to the first ever summit of the Community of Latin American and Carribean States.
Leaders - like Colombia's rightist Juan Manuel Santos - used the opportunity to call for greater economic co-operation between the 33-nation block.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT
"We need to encourage investment between countries. We don't have to rely on Europe and the U.S. We have the capacity to invest, to innovate, to create - If we work together, if we focus on integration."
That sentiment was echoed by Brazil's Dilma Roussef, on the moderate left.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DILMA ROUSSEFF, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT
"The time has come for us to be sure that we have all the conditions to create an expansive political and economic agreement for our region."
The countries of CELAC are home to nearly 600 million people and comprise the world's number one food exporter.
The summit has brought together a divergent group of leaders, from right-wingers like Santos to Raul Castro, president of Communist Cuba.
Andrew Raven, Reuters