MEXICO CITY: Mexico congratulated Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevedo for his victory in the race to lead the World Trade Organization, confirming the defeat of its candidate, former Mexican trade chief Herminio Blanco.
Mexico's economy ministry said that, according to the three ambassadors in charge of leading the election process, Azevedo was "the candidate favored by the WTO membership" and that Blanco called him to "express his full support in his new post."
"Mexico congratulates Ambassador Roberto Azevedo for his election," the ministry said in a statement.
Diplomats said earlier that Azevedo, Brazil's ambassador to the 159-nation organization, narrowly defeated Blanco in the final round of voting in the closed-door contest. Seven other candidates had been eliminated in earlier rounds.
The current director general of the WTO is Frenchman Pascal Lamy a former trade chief of the European Union who steps down on September 1 after two four-year terms at the helm.
Mexico, Latin America's second biggest economy after Brazil, said it welcomed the fact that the WTO will be led by someone from the region for the first time.
"Latin America has positioned itself as a solid region with sustained growth and a broad outlook," the economy ministry said.
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