AS/COA Online

Hu Lands in Latin America
Chinese President Hu Jintao's trip to Latin America helps cement Beijing's growing relationship with the region. After the G20 summit and before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Lima, Hu traveled to Costa Rica and Cuba. His tour comes on the heels of the Chinese Foreign Ministry releasing its first white paper on the region and as trade relations deepen.

News of the Americas

Weekly Roundup: From the G20 to APEC

Chinese and Russian leaders tour Latin America, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner tours North Africa, and Latin Americans weigh in on democracy. Read these stories and more in the Weekly Roundup.

The Lame-Duck FTA Push

With a political transition in progress, the Bush administration continues to urge passage of the U.S.-Colombia trade pact. But whether the deal will gain congressional approval during a lame-duck session remains in doubt.

Latin American Cities

2008 Latin American Cities Conference: Quito, Ecuador

AS/COA hosts its first Latin American Cities Conference in Quito on November 20, featuring panels on Ecuador's current investment climate, infrastructure growth, and prospects for sustainable development. Speakers include Minister of Mines and Oil Derlis Palacios and Coordinating Minister of Production Susanna Cabeza de Vaca.

Research & Analysis

Cuba and Raúl's Reforms: Power Grab, Public Relations or Change?

Writing for Ambassadors REVIEW, AS/COA's Christopher Sabatini writes that, while Cuban President Raúl Castro's reforms led to hope for concrete change on the island, "Don’t hold your breath."

The Real Hemispheric Agenda

Writing for Poder, COA's Eric Farnsworth explains that "financial recovery, energy, and climate change should be top priorities" for the president-elect. Farnsworth also analyzes current Inter-American relations ahead of the April 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Audio: The New Administration and the Future of Hemispheric Relations

An AS/COA panel discussion in Washington examined the future of hemispheric relations in the wake of the U.S. presidential election and celebrated the release of Americas Quarterly’s new issue titled “Memos to the President Elect.”