Senior hemispheric leaders discussed the importance of U.S.-Latin America cooperation and burgeoning regional trade with Asia at Council of the Americas’ 42nd annual Washington Conference on May 8.

During COA's 42nd Washington Conference, U.S. House of Representatives speaker John A. Boehner said he wants to see the whole Western Hemisphere as a "free enterprise zone [with] free markets, free trade, and free people."

View highlights from Council of the Americas' 42nd Annual Washington Conference on the Americas, held May 8, 2012.

COA's annual event convened senior hemispheric leaders, including U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Argentine Vice President Amado Boudou, to dialogue on U.S. partnerships with Latin America as well as the growing importance of Asia-Pacific ties.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s five-day tour of Colombia, Brazil, and Chile focused on regional defense, disaster preparedness, and arms exchanges.