Duque calls for the union of the Andean countries to overcome the crisis due to the pandemic. This Saturday, July 17, the president handed over the pro tempore presidency of the Andean Community (CAN).
Duque handed over the pro tempore presidency to his Ecuadorian counterpart, Guillermo Lasso.
Union of the Andean countries
Colombia assumed the annual presidency of the CAN on July 8, 2020. It had the main challenge of promoting the reactivation of the regional economy, affected by the crisis derived from the health emergency.
In this sense, the president stated that he hopes that the Andean countries will advance towards a scheme where intra-regional investment “always aim to create more jobs and close gaps“.
“The renewal of modern regulatory instruments and frameworks must lead us to make this intra-regional trade the first base or the first line of trade that detonates opportunities between our nations.“, He assured.
Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru are members of the CAN. This Saturday, the XXI Andean Presidential Council was held at the San Carlos Palace in Bogotá, headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Duque, President Guillermo Lasso and Vice President and Chancellor, Marta Lucía Ramírez attended in person. While the president of Peru, Francisco Sagasti; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia, Rogelio Mayta.
Duque reiterated that the issues that have united the CAN the most are the strengthening of democracy, “that has to be vibrant, participatory“, And must”always privilege the truth and the protection of human rights“.
He also talked about vaccination
Likewise, he invited the Andean countries to raise their voices on all multilateral platforms for the supply of vaccines against covid-19, such as the Covax mechanism. With this, he said that the distribution will be more equitable and nations will have greater access to them.
“It is very important from now on to have mechanisms in place to observe the recommendations of the international pharmaceutical houses, of the World Health Organization, with respect to potential reinforcements in the field of vaccines.“, He assured.
The CAN – created in 1969 as the Andean Pact – is made up of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In addition, it has as associated countries Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, as well as Spain and Morocco as observers.
Its objectives include accelerating growth and job creation and facilitating the regional integration process.
“We bid farewell to our pro tempore presidency expressing our commitment to this integration systemDuque assured.
Duque calls for union of the Andean countries to overcome the crisis due to the pandemic
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