Leaders of the Americas have called for coordinated steps to tackle the financial crisis now gripping much of the world. They made the call on Saturday at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago. Many Latin American countries are expressing their hopes the United States will cooperate with them in tackling economic problems.
At a plenary session of the summit, the leaders exchanged views on the summit's theme of human prosperity. U.S. President Barack Obama stressed that Washington's message was to move out of the financial crisis， to global economic growth. He said that means "shared prosperity and equal partnership". And also investing in education and health care， as well as increased shared progress both within the United States， and with regard to its foreign policy.But other leaders were expecting more from the US，Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, says, "the US doesn't give responses to the global economic crisis despite the fact that this constitutes the greatest challenge humanity has faced in decades and the most serious threat in our time for the well being of our people."
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned against resorting to protectionism. He also promised to help increase the Inter-American Development Bank's lending by about 4 million dollars.
And Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva says UNIVERSAL involvement by the global community is necessary to combat economic woes. He says the solution to the crisis can NOT be solved by only the major industrialized countries， or even the Group of 20.
(CCTV April 20, 2009)
