Bush begins week-long Latin America tour

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-09-2007 09:47

WASHINGTON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush left here on Thursday for a week-long Latin American tour aiming to strengthen ties and promote free trade in the region.

Bush is due to visit Brazil first before he goes to Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico.

"My trip is a chance to tell the people of Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil and Guatemala and Mexico that the United States cares deeply about the human condition," Bush said before his departure.

The United States has been trying to expand free trade and commercial ties with Latin American countries. Washington said it gave about 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in aid to Latin America in 2006.

Earlier this week, Bush announced plans to provide an additional 385 million dollars to expand affordable housing programs in Latin America. The president also said he would send a Navy medical ship, the Comfort, to Latin America and the Caribbean in June to treat 85,000 patients.

Editor:Du Xiaodan