Ibero-American leaders meet to push for regional integration

Leaders from major Latin American countries and Spain met here Thursday to push for regional integration so as to maintain economic growth. The 9th Ibero-American Business Meeting was designed to offer the private sector a forum for discussing and coming up with proposals to improve Ibero-American integration, said Latin American Business Council President Samuel Urrutia. He urged at the meeting regional governments to focus on business ventures and integration to boost economic growth, saying, "This is the Latin America's century." The meeting, which gathered Spanish Prince Felipe de Borbon, seven heads of state and about 200 businessmen from the region, came before the two-day 23rd Ibero-American Summit. Panel discussions were held on such issues as opportunities and experience in business integration, Ibero-American expansion towards new markets and the commitment of business towards change and sustainable development.