SANTIAGO: European and Latin American leaders wrapped up a two-day summit here Sunday, pledging to reinvigorate their "strategic partnership" for expanded free trade while shunning protectionism.
But the high-profile meeting attended by some 60 countries from both continents was overshadowed by a nightclub fire that killed at least 232 people in Brazil and forced President Dilma Rousseff to cut short her visit.
"It's a tragedy for all of us, and I cannot continue here at the summit, because my priority is the Brazilian people," Rousseff told reporters traveling with her in Santiago.
Hours later, the summit of the 27-member European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) closed, with participants observing a moment of silence for the victims of the Brazilian fire.
"Our discussions have given new energy and momentum to our strategic partnership," European Council President Herman van Rompuy said in his closing remarks.
On Monday, the 33 CELAC leaders will hold their own summit here, at which Cuba will take over the chairmanship from Chile for one year.
They plan to discuss how to overcome ideological and economic differences to foster greater regional integration.
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