Predictions of a sharp slowdown in Latin America’s economic growth this year made it even more necessary for the region’s leaders to make commitments to boost prosperity with equality during the Seventh Summit of the Americas, which took place Friday and Saturday in the Panamanian capital.

The two-day inter-American summit once again brought together high-level representatives of the governments of the 35 countries of the Western Hemisphere, with the novel inclusion of Cuban President Raúl Castro making it a historic meeting.

The heads of state and government, and parallel civil society, academic, youth and business forums, met in Panama City to debate the central theme “Prosperity with equity: The challenge of cooperation in the Americas”.

The president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, warned that the governments must take measures to prevent the economic stagnation from undoing the great achievement of the last decade, when poverty in the region dropped from around 50 percent 15 years ago to less than 30 percent today.

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