BRASILIA, Sept. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The Summit of the South American Community of Nations (CSN) on Friday declared to strengthen and diversify relations with Arab and African countries.

    The CSN leaders committed in a statement to follow-up actions for carrying out recommendations put forward by South American and Arab countries during the May 10-11 summit in Brasilia.

    The participants in the first CSN summit said it is necessary to make use of the drive generated by the May event.

    Leaders from the South American and Arab countries will hold a summit meeting in Algiers, capital of Algeria, on November 10-20.

    Other meetings between the two continents include that of senior officials on September 29-30 in Cairo, capital of Egypt, the ministerial meeting on culture in Algiers and the ministerial meeting on economic issues in Quito, capital of Ecuador to be heldin the first half of 2006.

    The South American leaders also agreed to convene a summit meeting between the CSN and the African Union (AU) consisting of 55 sub-Saharan and North African countries.

    The CSN was formed on Dec. 8, 2004 in the Peruvian city of Cuzco. It groups Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Guayana, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    The CSN's establishment was considered as an important step toward South American integration. Enditem