Cuban President Raul Castro called on Tuesday for Latin American and Caribbean leaders to show the will to improve healthcare and education.

"We have every possibility to abolish illiteracy," Mr Castro said. "We should have the political will to do it."

In his keynote speech as host for the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) Mr Castro said that the bloc should aspire to unity in diversity, describing it as "the legitimate representative of the interests of Latin America and the Caribbean."

"We should establish a new regional and international co-operation paradigm," he said.

"In the context of Celac, we have the possibility to create a model of our own making, adapted to our realities, based on the principles of mutual benefit."

Tuesday's session of heads of Celac states began with a minute of silence to remember late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who succumbed to cancer last March.

President Chavez was the driving force behind Celac's creation in 2011.

"The integration of Latin America is a strategic project," Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said in an evening speech.

"Celac does not impede bilateral relations within and outside of the region. On the contrary, it strengthens them."

UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon addressed the leaders and praised their emphasis on reducing poverty and inequality.

"Your vision is one of a great diversity. This diversity is a strength that should be respected and nurtured ... When Celac is stronger, the United Nations is stronger," he said.