Quito, February 20 (RHC-teleSUR) -- Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño hosted the executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) Thursday to discuss a mutual interest in cooperating in order to improve the lives of Latin Americans.

Ecuador is the current president pro-tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and has set out an ambitious agenda, including efforts to tackle poverty and inequality in the region, addressing climate change, and securing funding for social development.

“All of the means of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean are at the disposal of the president pro-tempore of CELAC,” stated CEPAL Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena.

Patiño added that CEPAL's expertise with respect to social indicators in the region would be of “great benefit” to the work that Ecuador hopes to embark on through CELAC.

CEPAL was established in 1948 with the aim of promoting economic and social development, the organization also produces statistical reports about countries in the region.

Patiño said a formal proposal regarding the cooperation between CELAC and CEPAL would be taken to a CELAC meeting for approval.