Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on November 3 called for "full partners" of the Americas at the opening day of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Ministerial Meeting in Toronto.

Addressing both the closing of the Americas Business Forum (ABF) and the opening of the FTAA Ministerial Meeting, he told business leaders and senior officials from 34 American countries that the rise of a truly global economy needs "good bridges" that can bring the Americas together.

He said he hoped that the future business forum in the Americas will become even more inclusive "to tap into the energy and abilities of indigenous peoples and youth.

"We must also allow all of the economies in the Americas to be full partners and beneficiaries," he stressed.

His call for a Pan-American partnership came a day after the chief of the US Chamber of Commerce Thomas Donohue urged an end to the embargo against Cuba.

Donohue told the ABF meeting Tuesday that unilateral economic sanctions against Cuba benefit neither the United States nor the Americas.

He was supported by Canadian Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew, who reiterated his country's support for the lifting of sanctions against Cuba.

Cuba has been excluded from either ABF or FTAA discussions under strong pressure from the US government.

At the two-day FTAA meeting, the trade ministers will discuss a framework of FTAA by 2005 and a package of measures to simplify customs clearances and make trade and investment policies transparent.

Another focus during the two-day meeting will be a united stand in a new round of talks of the World Trade Organization late this month in Seattle.