Leaders of the Americas on Saturday called for coordinated steps to tackle the economic crisis now gripping much of the world.

At a plenary session of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in the capital city of the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, the leaders exchanged views on the designed theme of human prosperity, though some touched on other topics like Cuba, said summit spokesman Felipe Noguera.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called for the need to invest in green technology, to promote decent employment, lamenting that fact that the cost of the economic crisis is being borne by the poorest members of the society.

"You have to put the people first," Noguera quoted Bachelet as saying. "The existing status quo cannot be maintained."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada warned against resorting to protectionism, promising to help increase the Inter-American Development Bank's lending by about 4 million dollars.

US President Barack Obama, for his part, stressed that Washington's message in moving out of the crisis to global economic growth means "shared prosperity and equal partnership" to invest in education, health care, and increased shared progress both within the United States and with regard to its foreign policy.

"It doesn't mean growing an economic pie that benefits only a few," Noguera quoted Obama as saying.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil urged a universal involvement of the global community in combating the economic woes, not just the major industrialized countries, or even the Group of 20, which he said achieved a significant advancement by discussing the democratization of the multilateral financial institutions.

"Everyone is now more humble, less arrogant, because nobody knows what should be done exactly," the spokesman quoted Lula as saying.

On Cuba, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suggested that the next summit of the Americas be held in Havana, capital of Cuba.

"He said it would not be impossible. It's a process, but it has to begin," Noguera said.

Cuba was suspended from the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1962. For Havana to become the venue of an Americas summit, the country needs to be reinstated in the regional body first.

During the summit's opening ceremony on Friday, Obama had promised to offer Cuba a "new beginning."

The amity between Obama and Chavez, who shook hands and greeted each other Friday, continued Saturday.

The Venezuelan president addressed Obama, and said in English: "I want to be your friend," Noguera said.

Obama smiled, but didn't acknowledge, or speak in response, the spokesman said.

Earlier in the day, during a meeting between Obama and his counterparts from 12 South American countries, Chavez gave Obama a Spanish-language book on foreign exploitation of Latin America during the colonial years.

The 1971 book, by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano and entitled "The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent," has a handwritten dedication from Chavez, "Para Obama con afecto" (To Obama with love).

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2009)