TEGUCIGALPA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- More than a dozen leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean on Wednesday gathered for the opening of the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

During the summit, member states are expected to adopt the Tegucigalpa Declaration, a roadmap aimed at deepening political and economic integration across the region.

Honduras formally handed over CELAC's rotating presidency to Colombia.

In the lead-up to the summit, CELAC organized five virtual presidential meetings and 12 ministerial gatherings to address key issues such as food security, energy, telecommunications and financial cooperation.

Founded in 2011, CELAC serves as an intergovernmental mechanism for dialogue and political consensus among 33 nations in the region. Its primary goal is to foster unity and promote integration across political, economic, social, and cultural fronts. ■