Caracas, June 24 (Xinhua-RHC) -- The Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) will work with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to combat hunger and poverty in the region, ALADI Secretary General Carlos Alberto Alvarez said Tuesday.

Alvarez told state-run Venezuelan television that he was in Caracas to propose how the two blocs can jointly work on social projects and how to revitalize 34-year-old ALADI so that it can serve as an important pillar for the strengthening of CELAC.

ALADI, a Uruguay-based bloc comprising 13 Latin American nations, aims to promote regional trade through preferential tariffs on goods from member countries and trade accords.

The biggest challenge facing Latin America today is integration, Alvarez said. He urged countries in the region to adopt policies that will industrialize Latin America, jointly diversify production modes and cooperate in economy and trade.

CELAC is a regional bloc of 33 countries with a population of about 600 million. The bloc seeks to deepen political, economic, social and cultural integration in Latin America and the Caribbean, and reduce the influence of the United States in the region.