The eighth Summit of the Americas has kicked off in Lima. Heads of state and business leaders are gathering in Peru's capital to debate the future of trade and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere at a time of instability and change. CGTN's Dan Collyns has more.

President Donald Trump may not be at this summit but US officials are keen to take the initiative on trade. Before the US president cancelled his trip, the White House was clear it wanted to reclaim its position as the number one trading partner in the region, a position held by China. Against a backdrop tension between the US and China over potential tariffs, the commerce secretary said the US was open for business. Ross added that Latin American countries benefited more from trade with the US than China and said the US would not back down.

DAN COLLYNS LIMA "While the US imports mostly value-added manufactured goods from Latin America, raw materials are China's principal import. But most Latin American leaders have made it clear they don't want to be forced to make a choice between its two biggest trading partners."

As Peru's Vice President Mercedes Araoz told CGTN:

MERCEDES ARAOZ PERUVIAN VICE PRESIDENT "Why would we want to close doors because other countries want to close doors. That's their decision. We want to have open doors and investors coming to our country and creating value. For our people, we need to create employment so we DON'T want to reduce our relationship with countries like China."

While the U.S. has stated its aim to counter China's increasing economic influence in the hemisphere. Canada's Prime Minister said the hemisphere needed to work together:

JUSTIN TRUDEAU CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER "For our people to get ahead we need to remove trade barriers, integrate our in supply chains and invest in one another. The Americas are tethered by geography yes, but the ties that bind us are much greater than that. We are friends and we are partners, united in the belief that success is best shared, for innovation and opportunity, for growth and investment, let us work together."

As Venezuelans protest in Lima on Thursday against the government of Nicolas Maduro, the need to act on the country's deepening crisis just might be the greatest point of consensus for the 20-plus nations at this gathering. Dan Collyns, CGTN, Lima.