"We are sure that this meeting will be an excellent opportunity for dialogue and exchange of ideas that will contribute to advance on many issues relevant to our Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the world," explained the president of the Consortium of Provincial Autonomous Governments of Ecuador, who was speaking via video conference at the opening of the forum.

He stressed that this forum will allow to learn about experiences and identify good practices that aim to seek the emergence of a structurally reformed Africa, socially supportive, economically strong, culturally radiant, environmentally sound, and respected throughout the world.

The approach to issues such as poverty, health, education, human and labor rights, climate change and economic development and others, is a concrete contribution to the generation of public policies that aim to improve the exercise of decentralization, he noted.

After highlighting the importance of the theme chosen for this forum, Jurado noted that the contribution of regional governments to the dynamics of sustainable development and integration in Africa is a challenge related to the understanding of the realities experienced by the African people.