Managua, Nicaragua - Members of the Central American Integration System (SICA) , pledged Thursday at the intergovernmental organization's 34th summit to speed up regional integration in the view of the global economic downturn.

At the summit held in the Nicaraguan capital Managua, the country's president, Daniel Ortega, took over SICA's chairmanship for the next six months.

Ortega said the represented states agreed on increasing interaction regarding their attempts to battle the financial crisis, as well as in social and environmental issues.

He expressed optimism that Central America would be able to weather the crisis.

SICA consists of members Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama and five observer states, including Spain, Chile and Mexico. Five presidents and two foreign ministers of the member states were present at the summit. (dpa)