Xinhua Commentary: China and LatAm join hands to draw blueprint for next decade of cooperation

by Xinhua writers Zhao Kai, Meng Yifei

MEXICO CITY, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Amid the accelerating changes in the global landscape, the 4th ministerial meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum opened Tuesday in Beijing.

The return to Beijing 10 years after the forum's debut ministerial meeting marks a significant milestone. It is expected to further advance the vision of a China-Latin America community with a shared future and enhance cooperation among the developing countries of the Global South.

United by a commitment to multilateralism and self-improvement as Global South nations, China and Latin America have achieved plenty over the past decade. Against this backdrop, the forum has grown into a vital platform that enhances mutual political trust, aligns development strategies, and strengthens people-to-people bonds.

Over the past years, close high-level contacts and strategic communication have guided China-LAC relations through a shifting international landscape, paving the way for a new stage of equality, mutual benefit, innovation, and openness, with tangible benefits for both peoples.

Deepened political trust was evident when Panama, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras established or restored diplomatic ties with China, and when Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia, and Nicaragua upgraded or established a strategic partnership with China.

Notably, relations between Brazil and China have been elevated to foster a community with a shared future for a more just world and a sustainable planet. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is contributing to development in more than 20 economies in the LAC region, highlighted by multiple landmark cooperation projects currently underway.

China is now Latin America's second-largest trading partner, and the region has become the second-largest destination for overseas Chinese investment, with 600.8 billion U.S. dollars in stock by the end of 2023. Currently, China has five free trade partners in the region. The country has been the largest market for Chilean cherries for years, and Chinese companies account for 37 percent of automobiles sold in Ecuador.

The China-LAC cooperation is also expanding into new sectors, such as renewable energy, digital technology, and transnational e-commerce, with dynamics driven by successful bilateral forums on science and technology innovation, digital technology cooperation, and space cooperation, all under the framework of the China-CELAC Forum. China's cloud computing, big data and AI technologies have widely empowered local industries to facilitate digital transformation.

High-level BRI construction is also helping advance the region's industrial upgrade, such as fully equipping Trinidad and Tobago's Phoenix Park Industrial Estate with a state-of-the-art 5G network.

The deepening of China-LAC relations has boosted employment, including the creation of higher-income jobs through BRI projects. Among recent examples is the April reopening of the Mexico City Metro's key Line 1, a project assisted by Chinese expertise aimed at improving residents' transit experience.

Meanwhile, a wide range of programs have strengthened cultural exchanges and the people-to-people bonds. These include Chinese government scholarships and vocational training programs for CELAC member countries, the China-LAC Youth Development Forum, the China-LAC Cultural Exchange Year, and China's foreign aid projects aimed at improving livelihoods.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China-LAC relations and cooperation are expected to build on the previous accomplishments and enter a new era replete with opportunities and broader prospects.

The China-CELAC Forum meeting in Beijing is sending a strong message of unity from the Global South, particularly in response to the increasing uncertainty and unpredictability stemming from rising unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying actions.

Undoubtedly, enhancing China-LAC relations and collaboration will contribute to stability and foster positive momentum in a tumultuous world. ■