I have noted, throughout my visits all around the country, that the main issue put forward for discussing our bilateral relations with Argentina is the very traditional sector of commercial exchange.

I was very surprised that with private sector and public authorities are not considering sufficiently the other elements of economic relationship as manifested especially in the outcome of negotiation and discussion of Uruguay round that terminated with the eventual establishment of the World Trade Organization. It may be still early to introduce a shift in the long established culture based specifically on historical value as did for the Argentine society.

One must recognize the long-standing preferential and competing position of Argentina in agriculture and related food industry. We also understand the importance of commodities in the development system of the country. But I believe it is equally important to investigate other means within hand to foster and diversify relations with Asian markets and societies. Services, intellectual property, technology and human resources are just examples of such means and are indeed a must to build sustainable relations.

Globalization has brought us closer. We are actually transformed into a global village. It is evident that cultural approach is also transformed into a must, not only to facilitate out commercial links, but also to create a better atmosphere of human relations.

We opened our borders and are receiving increasingly waves of tourists, investors and visitors from different parts of the world. It goes without saying that the already built culture in the society reflects itself in the way people from other countries are received.

Europeans are more welcomed and are given preferential treatment, whether here or in our area. We all know way. Europe has been building a cultural bridge with other parts of the world for decades. We should start doing the same between Asia and Latin America. We in Asia need to know more about Latin America. And Latin America need top know more about Asia. This will surely come and sooner than we predict thanks to individuals and groups like you in this Forum, that work in this direction.

I don’t need to define cultural aspects. You are all aware of them. However, I must underline that these aspects are not only a means to increase the volume of commercial and economic relations but they are necessary to strengthen peaceful coexistence and relations.

Human dignity and human rights are violated more frequently due to discrimination based on false manifestation of cultural beliefs. Individuals and even societies of our area fell victim in some parts of Latin America for misunderstanding our cultural values and mixing political ideologies with such values.

A barrier is being established, even before we start to discover each other. Sometimes I doubt that such barriers are required to limit and decrease our economic and commercial relations. Once again we have to touch on the role of the information sector. They are undoubtedly the main source for creating or changing this cultural approach. We hope that this sector will help build bridges of friendship rather than hatred and racist elements that add obstacles to our common endeavours for closer and peaceful relations.

I am sure that both civil and public sectors in both Latin America and Asia wish to build a safety net where cultural values change into a factor of enriching knowledge and into interactions that will  open the door for discovering each other.

Those who work to create doubts and hatred among us will not win. They may prevail for a short while but not for long. The people will know the truth sooner or later. We are peace-loving people with a great civilization. Our area is not exporting terrorists but highly qualified individuals. Our area is blessed as the source of the three main religions. It is the main source for cultural interaction throughout the world.

But knowing our area is not only a source of knowledge. It is necessary to open the gate for all kinds of interactions and specifically to attract investors. There are billions of dollars that may circulate between the Arab region and Latin America if we know how to interact.

Stop worrying about Arabs and Moslems. We should remove every opinion that tries to link violence and terrorism with religious or cultural beliefs. We have to put each case in its true context, look at it within the friendly framework that exists between our countries and work together to defend the openness and interaction between our peoples.

Having said so, I want to go back to real work and suggest that this Forum adopt a plan to foster cultural and technological relations. This is possible by various means, especially by encouraging specialized gatherings whereby experts from our two areas and every sector come together and know the potentials and offers existing at each side. Themes of intellectual property may be addressed separately. Tourism industry, banking and financial exchange, technological know how and film making industry may be considered in separate forums.