Denis MacShane: It is time to discover Latin America, as a friend

From a speech by the Foreign Office Minister responsible for Latin America delivered at Canning House, London

I have been struck at the extent to which the leadership of Latin America looks with interest and admiration to Europe. The model of the European Union, which allows independent nations such as Spain, France and Britain to share sovereignty in order to grow stronger as national communities, is one that finds an echo in South America where, in the past, a proud nacionalismo has led into the dead-end of isolationism and disconnection from the real world.

Britain also has its quota of isolationist politicians, whose nationalism usually finds expression in hostility to Europe. But the Europe which Britain wants to ensure is a Europe that opens its doors to Latin America.

As Tony Blair made clear in visits to Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, the protectionism associated with the EU's Common Agricultural Policy must come to an end. I will make my small contribution by ordering the Government Wine Collection – over which for some reason I exercise ministerial control – to add the fine wines of Latin America to those of Europe and the Commonwealth which our official state guests have the pleasure of drinking.

We look forward to the summit conference between EU and Latin American and Caribbean heads of government to be held in Madrid next spring. To reverse Canning's dictum, the time has come for the old world of Europe to restore balance after the long century of domination by the new world of the United States in South America. We will see a new Atlantic Triangulation between Latin America, the US and Europe.

And at the heart of this new relationship will be trade, which carries new goods, new cultures, new ideas and new partnerships. The World Trade Organisation talks launched in Doha, Qatar, will allow Latin America to increase trade with Europe. I am pleased that Britain is a leading investor in many Latin American countries. In Colombia people turn to coca growing and fall under the sway of terror of the narco-traffickers, the guerrillas and para-militaries because they have no material hope. The anti-globalisation politics that denies the chance of material improvement for the lives of the poor will be resisted by this government and by every democratic force in Europe and Latin America. But there is more than economics and trade to this new relationship between the UK, the rest of Europe and Latin America. We want a political and cultural bridge between these two great regions. Brazil and Mexico by size of population and GDP are well on their way to becoming global players. Britain wants to see a Latin American permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

In turn Latin America may be able to find points of interest in the way that Commonwealth countries like New Zealand and Canada are handling the sensitive issue of indigenous peoples who are claiming their rights to land and identity. The new desire to find post-national responses to global challenges like terror, drugs, money-laundering and the environment, as well as tackling poverty, will call into being a new partnership between London and the capitals of Latin America.

Already London is becoming a Latin American city as the growth of salsa bars and the stars of our football teams suggest. Britain had always been strongest when it opened its mind to ideas and people from overseas. The days of isolationist Britain, turning our back on Europe, and scorning the rest of the world unless it spoke English are, thankfully, long over.

I look forward to Britain being a leading EU partner in building this new Atlantic relationship with Latin America. Fewer than 500,000 Brits visit Latin America as tourists each year – a tenth of the number that go to the United States. We must put this right. It is time we discovered each other as friends and partners for the new challenges of the new millennium.