Italy wants to see Latin America and the Caribbean back at the centre of the European Union's agenda, given their historical ties and shared values including multilateralism, according to foreign minister Luigi Di Maio.
"Italy wants to help put back Latin America and the Caribbean at the strategic centre of the European agenda," Di Maio said in opening remarks to the inaugural plenary session of the 10th Italy – Latin America and the Caribbean Conference in Rome.
Italy is committed to re-focussing the European Union's attention on the region including by completing and updating various agreements with countries and regional groups.
"It is in our mutual interest to bolster a 'natural' partnership based on shared values: inclusiveness and social cohesion, democracy, human rights and multilateralism," Di Maio added.
Di Maio, Italy's deputy foreign minister Marina Sereni, ministers and vice ministers of the Latin American and Caribbean countries, and representatives of regional international organizations took part in this year's conference entitled 'People, Planet, Prosperity. The future of an ancient partnership'.
