CEPAL CONSIDERS SOUTH-SOUTH RELATIONS

San Salvador, August 30 (PL)- The Economic Comisión for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) examined South-South relations, on the third day of the thirty-four period of sessions held in this capital of El Salvador.

The importance of the issue was stressed by the executive director of the UN agency, Alicia Barcena, who warned of changes in the geography of the world economy.

"It is setting up an unprecedented scenario that we must look very carefully: is changing and shifting economic power from north to south and from the Atlantic to Pacific", she said.

She also added that the sum of economic activities of Asia-Pacific and Latin America represent today the 60 percent of global economic growth.

This trend augurus that by 2020 South-South exports will be overtake North-North exports, assured.

Barcena, stressed that something similar is happening with the flows of FDI, which already 50 percent goes to developing economies.

It then begins to build a new geography of the world economy that calls to rethink the structure of strategic alliances, with greater weight given to South-South relations, said.

The South is no longer the same and the Latin America and the Caribbean has also changed, she affirmed.

The Director of the CELAC said that this new situation that is being formed means for the region, to take on new challenges.

"We must move forward with unified regional positions, articulating with other development zones that allow us to address other major challenges such as security with climate, food, citizen", she said.

The meeting, which started work on Monday, was opened yesterday by President Mauricio Funes and is attended by delegates from the 44 member countries, partners and other organizations.

In san Salvador, CEPAL introduced the book "Structural Change for Equality: An integrated view of development".

In this book CELAC proposes a concrete path toward long-term growth with equity and environmental sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean, explained Barcena.

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