FEALAC Pledge to Boost Cooperation

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Representative from East Asia and Latin American countries during the 6th Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting of Forum for East Asia and Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) make pledge to boost cooperation in the future.

"We the FEALAC economies contribute 30 percent of world's GDP, approximately 30 percent of world's trade and 24 percent of world's foreign direct investment. The share of FEALAC in the world far surpasses that of UN and EU. Even so, there are plenty of room for enhancement of cooperation in the future," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said here on Thursday during the opening of the conference.

The minister who is also co-chair of the FEALAC meeting said the challenge of enhancing cooperation between East Asia and Latin American countries is how to maintain positive economic growth in the two region amid world's economic crisis.

Meanwhile Colombia's Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Monica Lanzetta who is also co-chair of the FEALAC meeting expressed hope for the success of cooperation between East Asia and Latin America in the future particularly in sectors such as tourism, education exchange, trade and climate change.

Last June 4 to 6 representatives from FEALAC members have met in Bali to discuss future framework of cooperation between East Asia and Latin America countries. Among recommendations made by the representatives are fostering more inter-regional dialogue involving government officials and people to increase connectivity and understanding among FEALAC members, establishing Business Connectivity Group and university network and developing cooperation in science and technology. (*/DWA)