Colombia takes over PA presidency

The Embassy of Colombia hosted a ceremony on July 17 to mark the handing over of the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance (PA).

Diplomats from the embassies of Chile, Peru, Mexico and associate member countries of the PA attended.

The PA is an initiative of regional integration in Latin America officially established on April 28, 2011.

The organization’s objectives are to achieve “deep integration” of the four nations through the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. It also seeks to strengthen trade links with all countries, but in particular with those of the Asia-Pacific, the embassy said.

Korea has been an observer of the PA since June in 2013.

“Periodically, the four member countries’ heads of state gather to review the PA’sprogress and to determine where the integration mechanism needs to move forward,” an embassy spokesperson said.

“During the 12th summit of the PA held on June 30 i n Cali, the pro tempore presidency held by Chile for one year was officially handed over to Colombia.” The pro tempore presidency changes annually in alphabetical order among the four member countries.

At the Cali summit, the presidents highlighted the PA’s achievements, including the Framework Agreement of the Alliance that came into force on July 20, 2015, and its trade protocol on May 1, 2016, that created a free trade zone.

They also emphasized the increase in the number of observer states to 52, the advances in the preliminary framework for cooperation with ASEAN and the holding of informal dialogue with APEC.

The presidents also announced the incorporation of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore as associated states, leading to a new free trade agreement among the countries through negotiations that will begin officially in September.