Vice President Francia Márquez arrived at the Pozos Colorados Convention Center in Santa Marta to begin the IV CELAC–EU Summit, which will seek to strengthen dialogue between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Since yesterday, the senior official has been holding meetings and gatherings with President Gustavo Petro, with whom she attended the Latin America and Caribbean–European Union Business Forum, “a key space for strengthening bi-regional cooperation and promoting alliances that drive inclusive, sustainable, and fair development.”
“We are at a historic moment: Latin America and the Caribbean have the opportunity to build partnerships with the EU that go beyond trade and capital, that strengthen human dignity, reduce inequalities, and preserve our common home, the planet,” said Márquez.
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Vice President Francia Márquez has arrived at the CELAC-EU Summit. Foto:Vice Presidency
On Saturday, the vice president also listed three strategic lines for joint progress: energy transition and environmentally friendly production; digital transformation and infrastructure that connects people; and bi-regional business cooperation with a human touch.
The arrival of Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio
Prior to the arrival of the vice president, Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio arrived. Upon her arrival at the Convention Center, the Minister of Foreign Affairs gave a statement to the media prior to the opening of the IV CELAC-EU Summit.
“The declaration is going very well, there is agreement on the declaration, and when the time comes we will read it and make it known to the whole of society. Naturally, the agreement has had some points that have been negotiated at length, there has been dialogue, we have been preparing it for quite some time and, of course, there is support for the rejection of all types of war, all types of disrespect for sovereignty, but it also focuses above all on the major challenges we face as a region, which have to do with the energy transition to clean energy, closing the digital divide, and addressing climate change issues, values shared with the European Union”, said Villavicencio.
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Arrival of Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio at the CELAC-EU Summit. Foto:Ministry of Foreign Affairs
He also commented on negotiations with Venezuela for the release of Colombians imprisoned in the neighboring country and announced that a bilateral meeting would be held today.
“We continue to work on it. As you know, about 10 days ago, 18 Colombians were released, including an Ecuadorian police officer, and we will have a bilateral meeting with the Venezuelan foreign minister to discuss this and other issues, but mainly to seek the release of all these detainees,” he said.
The heads of state and leaders who have arrived in Santa Marta
Spanish president of the Government Pedro Sánchez arrives at the CELAC-EU Summit in Colombia. Foto:@CancilleriaCol
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One of the first heads of state to arrive was the President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. Other European leaders already in the country include the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dich Schoof; the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luis Montenegro; the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo; and the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic.
From the region, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis Terrance Drew, President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister of Belize John Briceno, President of Uruguay Yamandú Orsi Martínez, Prime Minister of Guyana Mark Phillips, and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley have arrived.
MARÍA ALEJANDRA GONZÁLEZ DUARTE
Politic Desk
