Leaders from 60 countries in Europe and the Americas are meeting in Lima, Peru, Friday for talks on poverty, climate change and free trade.
The two-day talks mark the fifth meeting among officials from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. During this round, which opened Friday, European governments are expected to pursue ongoing free trade negotiations with Central America, the Andean Community and the South American trade bloc Mercosur.
Separately, participants are expected to discuss efforts to reach an agreement in the what is known as the Doha round of world trade talks. Agricultural disputes between rich and poor countries have blocked a deal on the talks, which began in Doha, Qatar in 2001.
Poor nations have complained that government aid to farmers in rich countries prompts wealthy farmers to overproduce, driving down prices and making it difficult for poor farmers to compete.
Wealthy nations say they are willing to reduce farm subsidies if developing nations drop import tariffs and open their markets to manufactured goods from developed nations. Brazil has played a major role in the Doha trade talks by representing the interests of developing countries.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
