21:41 | Lima, Sep. 30 (ANDINA).
High-ranking officials from governments of South American and Arab Countries (ASPA) Sunday began previous meeting for the Third Summit of ASPA in Lima, the capital city of Peru.
According to Peruvian official sources, coordination meetings between representatives from the Union of South American Nations ( Unasur) and from the Arab League are being held. Afterwards, two joint sessions between high-level officials will also be held.
The official sources said that the officials are giving the final touch to the Declaration of Lima, the document which was reviewed in the last days by the foreign ministries of both regions during the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York.
The sources added the meeting is discussing on desertification, boosting of petrochemical poles, investment and technical cooperation in economy, health, tourism, education and culture, Xinhua reported.
Peru’s Foreign Minister Rafael Roncagliolo said the Declaration of Lima is “a new force in the world,” as it seeks the union of forces to face several aspects of the international problems and generate an integral cooperation between the Arab and the South American countries.
Both regions have been separated because of the geographical distance, although their ties began since the time of Spanish and Portuguese colonialism in South America.
Currently, both regions share same interest for economic and social progress, preservation of the environment, reciprocal exchange in different areas, investment in key sectors, mutual interest for sustainable development and consolidation of world peace.
The ASPA Summit, which began in 2007 in Brazil and continued in Doha, Qatar, in 2009, is a mechanism for both blocs to carry out South-South commitments and cooperation mechanisms.
The 3rd ASPA Summit will be held here on Oct. 1-2.
ASPA is composed of the 12 countries of South America, and the 22 member states of the League of Arab States, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, and Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
(END) INT/EEP
Published: 9/30/2012