Addressing attendees at the COA's Washington Conference of the Americas, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings discussed the importance of educational exchange between the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere, saying that the more governments and higher education institutions work together to foster exchange, “the better prepared we will all be to respond to the challenges of our changing world.”

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez called for passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and improvements in Cuba’s human rights at COA's annual Washington Conference on the Americas. He announced a May 21, 2008 White House event to “shine a spotlight” on political prisoners in Cuba.

In the opening remarks at the 2008 Washington Conference, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon emphasized the “ultimately positive and hopeful” transformations that are occurring across the Americas and the importance of the U.S. to build policies around these changing dynamics.

At the COA's Washington Conference on the Americas, Secretary Rice underscored that there has “never been a time in modern history” when the U.S. relationship with the hemisphere has been so critical. U.S. friendship is not contingent upon any ideological position; rather, the administration is committed to working with countries in advancing key development issues.

Panama's president described how Latin America finds itself at an intersection between sustainable prosperity and challenges such as the global food crisis. Highlighting the Panama Canal expansion project as an opportunity for national dialogue, Torrijos voiced support for open markets and democracy.

President George W. Bush, speaking at the COA’s annual Washington Conference on the Americas, delivered a major policy speech on the U.S. role in the Western Hemisphere. “The foundation of a good foreign policy is good relations with your neighbors,” said the president, outlining priorities issues for U.S.-Latin American relations.

Peru's Finance Minister Luis Carranza Ugarte spoke at COA's 38th Washington Conference on the Americas, discussed his recent impressive growth as well as the obstacles to consolidating such gains. “Only through poverty reduction will we be able to consolidate our democratic system," said Carranza.