Punta Cana hosts 30th Anniversary of the Summit of the Americas

Punta Cana.- The 30th Anniversary of the Summit of the Americas was celebrated at Punta Cana Resort, with Dominican President Luis Abinader and notable former leaders, including Bill Clinton (USA), Laura Chinchilla and José María Figueres Olsen (Costa Rica), and Ernesto Pérez Balladares (Panama), in attendance. Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), the event commemorated the first summit and brought together former presidents, foreign ministers, and academics from across the region.

President Abinader highlighted the Dominican Republic’s commitment to development, emphasizing the nation’s economic growth, tourism expansion, and poverty reduction efforts. He announced plans to relaunch the summit in 2025, aiming to strengthen partnerships between Latin America and the United States. The event also featured intellectuals like Jorge Castañeda, former Foreign Minister of Mexico, and Carlos Ominami, former Chilean senator, who analyzed past summit achievements and outlined priorities for the 2025 agenda.

The Summit of the Americas, established in 1994 under Bill Clinton’s presidency, serves as a platform for fostering political, economic, and social cooperation across the Americas. Punta Cana’s role as a host recalls its historical significance, having hosted the First Presidential Meeting of Central America and the Dominican Republic in 1997, cementing the Dominican Republic’s position in regional integration efforts.