The conference, the first bi-continental one of its kind, focuses the discussions on the role of political parties in establishing an equal and fairer international order.

At the opening ceremony, the Argentinian Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said that the conference underlines the development of South-South cooperation and the role of political parties in establishing an international order that cares for the interests of poor people.

Delegates from 22 political parties discussed the role of political parties and the challenges they face during the economic crisis as well as in developing and establishing inter-regional multilateralism.

The organisers said the conference aims to boost cooperation between political parties, enhance links between nations and safeguard the common goals held by both regions.

The participating parties are all members of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which was established in 2000 and comprises of 250 members, and the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPAL), set up in 1979 with 58 parties from 29 Latin American and Caribbean countries./.