This Political Dialogue and Consensus Mechanism was created on January 11, 1991, in Tuxtla, México. Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá and Dominican Republic are its member states.

This forum conducts a periodic and systematic analysis of the multiple regional, hemispheric and worldwide issues of interest to the region. In addition to reaching agreements on political positions, the mechanism also fosters free trade and regional integration, as well as Mesoamerican cooperation.

The mechanism does not possess a formal institutional structure other than the Summit. Colombia hosted the XII version, held on October 26, 2010, in Cartagena. The XIII summit shall take place in mid-2011 in Panama.