Spokesman Lin Jian exemplified how trade ties, mutual political trust, and people-to-people exchanges have increased markedly in the past decade: “China has signed memorandums of understanding on the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative with 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he said.

The diplomat recalled that annual trade between both regions is almost 500 billion dollars. China remains the second-largest trading partner in Latin America, ranking as the first trading partner of nations such as Brazil, Chile, and Peru.

“President Xi Jinping has visited Latin America and the Caribbean on five occasions, has received numerous leaders from the region in China, and has held intense bilateral and multilateral meetings, consolidating strategic consensus,” stressed Lin, who highlighted the rise of cultural exchanges, the importance of the “China-Latin America Young Leaders Exchange and Training Camp: Bridge to the Future” and the creation of Confucius Institutes, which helped mutual understanding.

“The China-Latin America Forum has achieved substantial development. Under the forum’s framework, more than 90 activities have been successfully carried out in 28 different areas, including three ministerial meetings,” the spokesman said.

Lin also highlighted the concertation on shared visions of multilateralism in favor of peace, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation on the international stage. “China and the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean are all developing countries and members of the great family of the ‘Global South,” he stressed, adding that Beijing will continue its approach to Latin America “based on the principles of sincerity, pragmatism, friendship and good faith.”

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