The Executive Secretary of the CPLP and the Deputy Secretary General of SEGIB met in this second IPDAL initiative. Colombia took the opportunity to publicly announce its intention to join, as an Observer Member, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries.

With the aim of deepening the dialogue – which began in 2014 – between the two blocs, IPDAL, in partnership with SOFID and SEGIB, once again brought together the ambassadors of Latin America with those of the CPLP, in a working meeting chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Community, Ambassador Murade Murargy, and with the Deputy Secretary General of SEGIB.

Another of the guests of honor at the initiative was the Minister – Private Secretary for National Policies of the Presidency of Nicaragua, who concluded the work. Paul Oquist Kelley, IPDAL’s guest for this official visit to Lisbon, made a point of praising the Institute’s commitment to bringing the two sides of the Atlantic closer together, with Portugal as its hub.

The SEGIB representative recognized the importance of the CPLP and confirmed that the General Secretariat aims to deepen the relationship with the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. The head of the CPLP also stated that he wants to work more with the Ibero-American conference and the world of Hispanicity.

The diplomatic representatives of the Latin American countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela – of the CPLP members – Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste – and the organization’s observer countries – Turkey, Japan, Senegal.

IPDAL also presented a comparative analysis of the economic realities of Latin American countries and the CPLP, highlighting the economic perspectives for the coming years and pointing out paths of complementarity and concrete areas of common action.

All participants had the opportunity to present their points of view on building this relationship and many of the participants put forward concrete proposals.

IPDAL reiterates its gratitude to SOFID and SEGIB for supporting the organization of this initiative.