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Leaders pose for Pacific Alliance Summit group photo

14:06 | Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), Jul. 24.

Presidents of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru (Pacific Alliance Member States) posed for the 13th summit of the bloc's official group photo on Tuesday morning.

The session took place in the western Mexican city of Puerto Vallarta prior to the Pacific Alliance Summit's opening event.

The photo features Enrique Peña Nieto (Mexico), Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia), Sebastian Piñera (Chile), and Martin Vizcarra (Peru) all dressed in white shirts.

As planned, Pacific Alliance leaders met with presidents and representatives of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) afterward.

During the gathering —held at Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center— the dignitaries exchanged ideas about closer cooperation between the two regional groups.

Also attending the meeting were Uruguay leader and current Mercosur's pro-tempore President Tabare Vazquez, as well as his Brazilian counterpart Michel Temer.

Shortly after came the opening and official start of the 13th summit, where Vizcarra is expected to speak along with peers from Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. 

About

According to its own definition, the Pacific Alliance —created in 2011— is an integration initiative focused on reducing trade barriers, as well as fostering the free circulation of goods, services, capitals, and people across its territories.

The bloc relies on observer countries and represents the eighth-largest economy in the world.

Nowadays, it has become the axis of a new way of doing business in the continent.

Likewise, it has become a new platform to negotiate deals across the hemisphere.

On an annual basis, the Pacific Alliance rotates the pro-tempore presidency among its members.

It must be noted Chile was handed over the presidency by Peru in 2016, and then Colombia was chosen to hold it in 2017.

(END) VVS/MVF/RMB/MVB

Published: 7/24/2018