[March 17, 2009] Prince encourages Spain-US cooperation in economic crisis Tweet (EFE Ingles Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) New York, Mar 17 (EFE).- Spain's Crown Prince Felipe encouraged Tuesday some 300 heads of companies and institutions of his country and the United States to forge cooperation in sectors like renewable energy and infrastructures with the aim of favoring sustainable development, economic recuperation and job creation. The Spain-U.S. Sustainability Conference, presided over by the prince and his wife, Princess Letizia, has carried out an intense two-day business program. The event in New York was organized by Spain's government to promote Spanish business projects on the U.S. market. Prince Felipe stressed how important it was for the two countries to cooperate in developing technologies that favor a sustainable economy, with the conviction that joint research will spur innovation in these areas. The prince urged strengthening joint business and research projects as well as university exchange programs, after stressing Spanish experience "in the development of renewable energy sources, modern transportation systems and efficient management of infrastructure." Another speaker at the conference was former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who praised the leadership of Spanish firms in renewable energy, a field in which, he said, Spain "has a lot to teach" his country, and asked for greater cooperation between the two nations to combat the effects of climate change and the economic crisis. The forum was inaugurated by Spain's minister for Industry, Tourism and Commerce, Miguel Sebastian, who defended the increased importance of renewable energy in the Spanish economy and paraphrased President Barack Obama to encourage the United States and Spain to tackle with optimism the unresolved challenges by saying "Together we can - yes we can!" EFE rf/cd Copyright ? 2009 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]