Leaders at the summit (Photo: AFP)

(VOVworld) – The 23^rd Ibero-American Summit wrapped up in Panama city and released a joint statement on commitments to promote dialogues and political and cooperative agreements in the context of profound changes in the world. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto stressed the need to reform the bloc’s current dialogue and cooperation mechanisms to be more adaptable to the era’s challenges. Nieto said member countries need to give priorities to issues of education quality and technology renovation to increase productivity and competiveness among Spanish-and-Portuguese-speaking countries. Panama’s President Ricardo Martinelli called for the implementation of in-depth institutional and political reforms within the grouping. He added that only government actions cannot address current challenges.

Countries agreed that the summit will be held every two years after 2014, pledging to restructure funding for the Office of the Secretary General and boost cooperation in developing small and medium sized enterprises.