Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) — China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries will jointly deepen and thoroughly advance the building of a community with a shared future, said Qiu Xiaoqi, special representative of the Chinese government for Latin American affairs.
He made the statement ahead of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).
Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony and unveil new initiatives and measures to further strengthen ties. China and LAC countries are expected to make progress in a wide range of areas, including scientific and technological innovation, trade and investment, and artificial intelligence (AI).
China and LAC countries will take a retrospective look at their original aspirations, pool consensus, and jointly map out future plans, Qiu Xiaoqi said.
Qiu Xiaoqi recalled that in July 2014, Xi Jinping and LAC leaders announced the establishment of the China-CELAC Forum. In January 2015, the forum held its first ministerial meeting in Beijing, turning the vision of cooperation into reality.
Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the first meeting of the forum, where he provided strategic guidance and laid a solid foundation for the successful launch of the forum and its long-term development.
Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the second ministerial meeting of the forum in 2018, calling on the two sides to reach political consensus on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2021, he delivered a video message to the third ministerial meeting, charting a course for promoting high-quality development of China-LAC relations in the new era, Qiu Xiaoqi said.
He said that thanks to Xi Jinping’s personal care and leadership and the joint efforts of all parties, the China-CELAC Forum is becoming more and more mature.
The mechanism of this forum has formed a comprehensive, multi-level and multi-vector network of dialogue and cooperation, becoming an important platform for strengthening political trust, linking development strategies and promoting the rapprochement of peoples.
He added that the forum also played an important role in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for China and the LAC, as well as enhancing the influence of countries in the Global South.
Through a range of institutional mechanisms such as ministerial meetings, dialogue between the Chinese and CELAC Quartet Foreign Ministers, and meetings of national coordinators, the forum has developed a growing number of specialized sub-forums, ranging from political party sub-forums to business sub-forums.
“The China-CELAC Forum has become a key platform for building political consensus, putting forward important initiatives and measures, formulating action plans and evaluating results. It has played an important and active role in promoting China-LAC cooperation in various fields,” Qiu Xiaoqi said.
Over the past decade, the forum has witnessed leaps and bounds in China-LAC relations, Qiu Xiaoqi noted, detailing five features that currently characterize China-LAC relations.
First, bilateral relations have improved. Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have established or renewed diplomatic relations with China, and of the 26 countries in the region that have diplomatic relations with China, 16 have established various forms of partnership with China.
Second, the confluence of interests has brought new results. More than 20 LAC countries have joined the Belt and Road Initiative. China is now the second-largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the largest trading partner for several countries in the region, with free trade agreements signed with five countries.
According to Qiu Xiaoqi, trade volume between China and countries in the region reached US$518.4 billion last year, more than double the volume of a decade ago.
Third, the peoples have become closer than ever. LAC countries have widely supported the Global Civilization Initiative. The China-LAC Forum on Dialogue of Civilizations has been held seven times, demonstrating closer people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.
Fourth, their cooperation in the international arena has made further progress. Adhering to mutual respect and taking into account each other’s core interests and concerns, China and LAC countries maintain close communication through platforms such as the United Nations (UN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), working together to advance global governance reform and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
Fifth, a new framework for overall cooperation has been established. With improved mechanisms, the China-CELAC Forum has become the main channel for interaction between the two sides.
Qiu Xiaoqi stressed that it has become a common aspiration to elevate relations between China and LAC countries to a higher level.
China will make use of the China-CELAC Forum and promote high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to Qiu Xiaoqi, priority areas will be expanding transport connectivity, promoting trade and investment, deepening cooperation in manufacturing capacity, strengthening cooperation in aerospace and artificial intelligence, and strengthening exchanges on public administration.
Qiu Xiaoqi stressed that China, Latin America and the Caribbean are some of the most dynamic and promising countries and regions in the world and are vital parts of the global South.
Strengthening their solidarity and cooperation will not only help build a vast trans-Pacific market and support each other in resisting unilateralism and protectionism, but will also give a sustainable impetus to their development and make an important contribution to world peace and development, he said.
Qiu Xiaoqi concluded that by taking the opportunity of jointly hosting the fourth China-CELAC Forum Ministerial Meeting, China and LAC countries will demonstrate solidarity and cooperation, strengthen bilateral ties, bring certainty to a troubled world, and contribute to the development and progress of mankind.