Program Summaries

During the North American launch of the Vance Center's Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas and the introduction of the Spanish edition of AS/COA's Rule of Law Report, speakers discussed prospects and challenges to judicial reform and to cultivating a culture of pro bono work in Latin America.

Immigration experts joined Jorge Castañeda, Mexico's former secretary of foreign affairs, to discuss his new book Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants, and the challenges facing immigration reform in the United States.

At the 7th Annual Latin America Conference, AS/COA hosted former Presidents José Sarney of Brazil and Alejandro Toledo of of Peru. The event also featured panels on social development in the Americas and a second on Venezuela's referendum on constitutional reform.

As part of its Asia-Latin America initiative, AS/COA co-hosted with the Asia Society a forum to discuss Asian Perspectives on Latin America. This report offers a summary of remarks by Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong and Chilean Ambassador Mariano Fernandez, as well as analysis of deepening Pan-Pacific trade and business relations with an eye to APEC 2008 in Peru.

While a U.S.-Peru bilateral agreement moved forward in Congress, the Council of the Americas brought together Ambassador John Veroneau of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Colombia's Minister of Trade Luis Guillermo Plata. Speakers emphasized the need for congressional approval of a trade deal with Colombia, a key U.S. ally in the hemisphere.

AS/COA hosted its second annual Latin American Cities Conference in Lima, focusing on Peru's investment climate, energy and mining policy outlook, trade policy and prospects, and APEC Peru 2008. 

Chile is a competitive alternative to India for information technology services, according to speakers at a recent program co-hosted with the Chilean Economic Development Agency.