Asia-Latin America club launched in Seoul

SEOUL, July 19 (Yonhap) -- Diplomats from East Asian and Latin American nations launched a Seoul-based association Thursday to promote the operation of an existing forum linking the two regions. The Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) was created in 1999, joined by 16 countries in East Asia and 20 in Central and South America. It's designed to enhance cooperation among member states in various sectors but does not yet have a secretariat. South Korea, which has played a leading role in the FEALAC, has instead hosted a cyber secretariat since 2011. And working-level officials at member states' embassies here have set up the Seoul Club at South Korea's proposal. The opening ceremony and the first plenary meeting took place earlier in the day, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Participants agreed to continue efforts to reach out to the public and deepen their solidarity, it said. lcd@yna.co.kr (END)