The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, welcomed India, Türkiye, Angola and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) as new observers of the Ibero-American Conference on Tuesday, 3 November, during the High-Level Dialogue with Associate and Consultative Observers, which he chaired in Madrid as part of the Ibero-American Summit.
The meeting, organised at the initiative of Spain's Pro Tempore Secretariat, brought together Ibero-American Foreign Ministers and representatives of observer States and organisations to exchange views on the main global challenges and explore new avenues for cooperation.
The addition of the new observers broadens the participation of partners from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean in a forum that brings together 22 countries and nearly 700 million citizens. “The participation of these new observers strengthens the global reach of the Ibero-American Community and demonstrates the growing interest in collaborating with a forum for dialogue, political coordination and cooperation that has a remarkable capacity to build consensus among diverse countries,” Albares stressed.
The dialogue forms part of the Ibero-American Summit in Madrid, a particularly symbolic edition marking 35 years since the first Summit, held in Guadalajara (Mexico) in 1991. Over the coming days, Foreign Ministers will continue their meetings, followed by meetings of Heads of State and Government, bringing to a close two years of dialogue and political coordination among the 22 Ibero-American countries.
Bilateral meetings
On the sidelines of the meeting, Albares signed the General Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and Panama with Panama's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javier Martínez-Acha. The new text replaces the 1953 treaty, which predates Spain's Constitution and was limited to the peaceful settlement of disputes, and adapts the framework governing bilateral relations to present-day realities.
The treaty reflects the close ties of friendship, mutual respect and historical, cultural and linguistic links between Spain and Panama, and commits both States to strengthening their coordination in the political, economic, technological, educational, cultural, legal and consular spheres, as well as in development cooperation.
He also met with Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Water and climate resilience
At the start of the day, Albares brought together Ibero-American officials and representatives of international organisations at AECID to address the challenges posed by extreme hydrometeorological events and the role of international cooperation in strengthening climate resilience and water security in the region.
Participants in the session included Bolivia's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Executive Vice President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Everett H. Eissenstat, and the Secretary for Ibero-American Cooperation, Lorena Larios Rodríguez.
Ibero-American Business Meeting
Albares also took part in the opening of the Ibero-American Business Meeting, held on 3 and 4 November with the aim of promoting a common agenda for innovation, sustainable productive transformation and economic integration.
The Minister highlighted that “our Foreign Action Strategy links competitiveness with economic security and the reduction of vulnerabilities. In a changing geopolitical environment, supporting businesses is not a secondary task; it is a responsibility of our foreign policy.”
Images of the day's events are available here.
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