The Mendoza Legislature became the epicenter of regional dialogue and cooperation. With the participation of prominent political figures and representatives from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, the commitment to economic integration and political cooperation in times of global challenges was highlighted. The Mendoza Legislature was the epicenter of a transcendental meeting for regional integration.
This is the Joint General Assembly of the Argentine Block UPM and the Parliamentary Union of Mercosur, a process of utmost importance for our region. Mercosur is a regional integration bloc that promotes economic and political cooperation between its member countries, and in that framework, the Union of South American Parliamentarians of Mercosur, which is celebrating 25 years of its creation, emerged with the need to generate a space of brotherhood and parliamentary fraternity for the development of common policies and legislation.
The opening ceremony took place on the esplanade of the Mendoza Legislature, where the delegations were received by Vice Governor Hebe Casado, the Provisional President of the Senate, Martín Kerchner, and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Andrés Lombardi, an opportunity in in which the band of the province’s Penitentiary Service, directed by Alberto Cambria, performed the Anthems of each of the countries present.
The legislative authorities were accompanied by the president of the Union of Parliamentarians of Mercosur, Valdemar Junior, the vice presidents of the UPM Juan Ripoll, Enrique Astudillo and Alejandro Cellillo, as well as the Minister of Production, Rodolfo Vargas Arizu, the mayor of Malargüe and former governor , Celso Jaque, and provincial legislators.
“This occasion is an opportunity to think and debate issues that are very important and significant for the region, for all of Mercosur; “We have a very interesting work agenda that has to do with logistics, bioceanic corridors, integration, economic development issues, natural resources, and how all of this helps finance sustainable economic activities,” said Lombardi after giving the welcome.
“Economic integration is also tourism integration, and how our provinces, our localities, prepare to send tourists and receive tourists, and that through these actions, our cultural and historical heritage, our natural beauties, are made known. our developments in gastronomy, and especially, in the case of Mendoza, in viticulture,” he added. The president of the Chamber of Deputies said that Mendoza “wants to contribute a lot in terms of knowledge, in the knowledge industry, to the development of the region,” and in that sense he praised the fact that Mendoza has “national universities, public universities , private universities, that work on the subject.”
“We have to continue working hard on connectivity to promote the development of the industry, and we want to be open to the exchange and improvement of our experience,” he expressed. Subsequently, the authorities entered the session hall to begin the Assembly, which began with the words of Vice Governor Hebe Casado.
The president expressed her honor and privilege for holding this significant event in the province, taking into account that it takes place within the framework of the 25th anniversary of the UPM, an organization that since its creation in 1999, has been focused on unifying geopolitical strategies to defend the interests of the peoples that make up Mercosur in various areas.
The vice governor also highlighted the achievements made in the harmonization of legislation, the promotion of gender equality, the protection of human rights and the promotion of sustainable development in the region. Likewise, she made special mention of the Women’s Forum, created 10 years ago, and its contribution to strengthening gender equality in the region; as well as the spirit of collaboration that has kept the member countries united, underlining the role of the Assembly as a space for dialogue in a world that has faced increasingly complex challenges.
Finally, he reaffirmed the UPM’s commitment to values such as democracy, social justice, solidarity and peace, calling to continue building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient Mercosur.
