Chinese President Xi Jinping has likened China's relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean to a line from an ancient Chinese poem: "True friends always feel close to each other no matter the distance between them." Since assuming office, Xi has visited the region five times, meeting with leaders, signing cooperation agreements, and fostering closer ties.
Xi's recent visits to Peru and Brazil aimed to enhance collaboration and boost exchanges. In Peru, he emphasized the significance of the Chancay Port, a major China-Peru project that will halve the sea freight time between South America and Asia, strengthening trade and connectivity. The port is part of a broader effort to build a new land-sea corridor linking China and Latin America.
Since 2012, China has been Latin America's second-largest trading partner. In 2022, trade between the two sides reached $485.7 billion, a 7.7% increase from the previous year. With 22 Latin American countries signing on to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), projects such as Brazil's Belo Monte Hydropower Plant transmission line, Argentina's Belgrano Cargas railway, and the Jamaica North-South Highway have underscored the partnership's success.
Cultural ties have also flourished, with 180 sister-city partnerships established between China and 17 Latin American countries. Xi has highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges, citing a Brazilian proverb, "Condition of good friends, condition of old wine," to describe the long-standing friendship. Platforms for cultural collaboration have expanded, enhancing mutual understanding.
China's influence in Latin America extends to the energy sector, particularly in photovoltaic (PV) power. Chinese firms are helping to develop PV power plants across the region, contributing to a greener energy landscape and supporting Brazil's reindustrialization efforts.
Xi's vision for a shared future was highlighted during Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to China, where several cooperation agreements were signed. Xi also honored former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff with the Friendship Medal for her contributions to China-Brazil relations.
"The 'Chinese Dream' and the 'Latin American Dream' are closely linked," Xi has said, emphasizing the shared commitment to pursuing a brighter future together.
Source: Xinhua