China-Latin America Relations Ushering in a New Era of Comprehensive Development

Qin Gang

Latin America and the Caribbean region, hosting a large number of developing countries and emerging markets, is endowed with unique natural and human resources, with tremendous growth potential. It is an important force in moving toward a multi-polar world and a crucial partner in contributing to the joint construction of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. From a strategic vantage point and a long-term perspective, China attaches great importance to its relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries and regards this relationship as a critical foundation of China's foreign affairs.

Since China and Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1960, the China-Latin America relationship has lasted nearly six decades. During the past 60 years, the China-Latin America relationship has maintained good momentum, with expanding areas of cooperation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the China-Latin America relationship has entered a new period of allround development. President Xi Jinping has visited Latin America four times where he has laid out a blueprint for China-Latin America relations. President Xi and Latin American leaders have positioned China-Latin America relations as comprehensive cooperative partnership, and pushed for the establishment of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, charting the course for the joint construction of China-Latin America relations featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and benefits for the people in the new era and for building a China-Latin America community with a shared future for common progress.

2018 witnessed the China-Latin American trade volume exceeded for the first time $300 billion, making China an important trading partner for most Latin American countries and making Latin America the second largest destination after Asia for China's overseas investment. In 2018, President Xi Jinping also proposed optimizing and upgrading China-Latin America cooperation as well as its innovative development through jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. This has met with a warm response. In April 2019, up to 100 delegates from 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries came to China to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, including the Chilean President, the Vice Chairman of the Cuban Council of Ministers and the Comptroller General, and Foreign Ministers from Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada. At present 19 countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region have signed memoranda of understanding on joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative with China. There has emerged simultaneously a “China Craze” in Latin America and a “Latin America Craze” in China, which is serving to spur people-topeople exchanges between the two sides and will further consolidate the foundation of China-Latin American relations in society and in the mind of the public.

In essence, the China-Latin American cooperation belongs to South-South Cooperation. In conducting cooperation with Latin America, China adheres to the principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and focuses on common development, which meets the needs and interest of all the participants and which has already brought tangible benefits to both sides. China's effort to develop relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries is not exclusive, nor does it target any other country. It is not based on any geopolitical calculation, nor does it represent any strategic “power play.” China would like to see Latin American and Caribbean countries develop relations with all other countries, and is willing to engage in trilateral and multilateral cooperation on the basis of mutual respect of the intentions of all the parties and with the goal of achieving common development and prosperity through increasing the size of the “economic pie” by such cooperation. China's cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries in investment and financing adheres to the laws of the market economy and abides by internationally recognized rules, which are aimed at helping regional countries to overcome the “bottleneck” of capital shortage, improving their ability for their independent development, and promoting the socio-economic development and improvement of people's livelihood in the region. Since the recipients of the investment and financing consist primarily of business enterprises, such investment will not increase financial burdens of the individual nations. In fact, not a single Latin American and Caribbean country has fallen into “debt trap” as a result of Chinese investment or financing. Since justice reigns in the hearts of the people and facts speak louder than words, we believe that Latin American countries will make the correct judgment in this respect.

As the world is undergoing drastic transformation unseen in a century, China-Latin America relations in this new era are confronted with many new issues and many new tasks, which calls for more relevant in-depth research and increased application of valuable research to diplomatic practices. In this sense, the establishment of the Department for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at China Institute of International Studies is extremely timely. I would like to take this opportunity to put forward my hopes:

First, give full play to the traditional advantage in foreign affairs and international studies and keep in mind a holistic view of the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Expand the scope and depth of Latin American studies, focus on the most urgent problems, and conduct joint research, research projects and academic seminars, in order to provide greater thought and improved recommendations for the development of China-Latin America relations.

Second, step up the development of new talent, enlarge the research team, and cultivate a number of academic leaders with high integrity, solid background and rich experience in order to strengthen a Latin America studies team that can promote the China-Latin America relations in the new era.

Third, make a concerted effort to “bring in” and to “go out” by stepping up exchanges and cooperation with domestic and international academic institutions, think tanks, media organizations, business enterprises and embassies of the regional countries. While improving research capabilities, assist counterparts in Latin America to get a better understanding of the China-Latin America relations, and make a continuous effort to shape a social environment and public opinion that is conducive to the advancement of China-Latin America relations.

Many hands make light work. Under the caring guidance of State Councilor Wang Yi, I believe that the new Department for Latin American studies at China Institute of International Studies will make greater contributions to the academic research dedicated to Latin America, and provide better intellectual support for the development of China-Latin America relations. I hope for strong support to the work of CIIS Department for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and engage in more exchanges. I would also welcome more valuable thoughts and suggestions to help improve work on Latin American affairs and bring China-Latin America relations to a higher level of cooperation in the new era.