U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met ministers from 13 Latin American countries and Canada here on Wednesday for the first "Pathway to Prosperity" ministerial meeting of the region.
Launched in September by U.S. President Bush and leaders of Canada and 10 Latin American countries, the "Pathway to Prosperity" initiative aims to bring the benefits of economic development to the poorest and most vulnerable, local media said.
At what is likely to be Rice's last major meeting in Latin America as secretary of state, she said she was honored to work with the ministers for a "more prosperous and fair hemisphere."
"I know the problems this hemisphere is facing are difficult, but I also recognize the compromise of each one of the ministers for the hemisphere to be more just and prosperous," Rice said.
The U.S. state secretary also called on the ministers to maintain their support for free trade despite the ongoing financial crisis.
"Free trade and open markets remain the surest way to economic growth," she said.
Source:Xinhua
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