Santiago - The economies of Latin American and Caribbean countries are forecast to grow a collective 1.9 per cent next year amid the global downturn, a commission on the region's economic affairs said Thursday.

This year, the national economies of the region with 500 million people are to gain 8 per cent, the group Cepal said in the Chilean capital.

Costa do Sauipe, Brazil - Raul Castro returned to the Latin American fold this week with a showering of hugs, back-slaps and vigorous handshakes. He could barely catch his breath.

At Tuesday and Wednesday's gathering of leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean at the northeastern Brazilian resort of Costa do Sauipe, the Cuban leader was greeted like no other at the event - "comrade," "friend," "brother."

With emotions echoing the Biblical return of the prodigal son, Cuba was accepted as an official member of the so-called Rio Group, which was holding the summit with three other regional blocs - Mercosur, Unasur and the Conference of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Costa do Sauipe, Brazil  - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday that the Latin American and Caribbean region "will not attend passively" the debates on the global crisis, but will instead seek to make its voice heard in the definition of a new international financial structure.

"We will play an important role in the construction of a new political and economic architecture that is international, multipolar and multilateral," he said.

Costa do Sauipe, Brazil  - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that the multiple Latin American and Caribbean summit taking place in Brazil was a message for US president-elect Barack Obama, that the region wants to talk "with its own voice."

"Now that a new president is coming in the United States, it is very opportune that we should meet, without protectorates, without hegemonies. That is enough of empire," Chavez said in the northeastern Brazilian resort of Costa do Sauipe.

Costa do Sauipe, Brazil  - Mexican President Felipe Calderon advocated Tuesday in Brazil the creation of a safer environment for investment in Latin America, as a way to fight the current global financial crisis.

Calderon was speaking at a large gathering of Latin American and Caribbean nations, which is set to include the summits of four blocs Tuesday and Wednesday in the northeastern Brazilian resort of Costa do Sauipe.

Washington - Latin America has an opportunity to lead the world in efforts to tackle global warming, but will have to do more to avoid the worst affects of climate change in the coming years, according to a World Bank report released Wednesday.

Latin America has the natural resources necessary to sharply reduce its own carbon footprint and pass on some of its more innovative solutions to other developing countries, many of which are facing pressure to lower their climate-damaging emissions without stunting economic growth.