China has reaffirmed its commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), unveiling a series of major initiatives set to unfold over the next three years.
At the opening ceremony of this week’s Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined China’s vision for strengthening cooperation with the region.
One of the key initiatives, the Project of Peace, aims to bolster security, support peace declarations, enhance anti-corruption efforts, improve disaster response, and strengthen law enforcement capacity.
“China is ready to work with LAC to jointly implement the Global Security Initiative, support the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and the Declaration by the 33 LAC Countries on the Denuclearisation of Latin America and the Caribbean, and enhance cooperation in disaster management, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, drug control and combating transnational organised crime to safeguard regional security and stability,” President Xi said.
Additionally, the Project of Development is designed to align development strategies, expand trade and investment, and advance cooperation in infrastructure and technology.
The Chinese leader said his government is ready to work with LAC to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative and expand collaboration in emerging fields such as clean energy, 5G communications, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence.
Another initiative, the Project of People-to-People Ties, seeks to deepen cultural and educational exchanges through tourism, scholarships, vocational training and language learning programmes.
“China will provide CELAC member states with 3 500 government scholarships, 10 000 training opportunities in China, 500 scholarships for international Chinese language teachers, 300 training opportunities for poverty reduction technicians, and 1 000 slots for ‘Chinese Bridge’ study trips to China,” President Xi said.
“China will implement 300 small and beautiful livelihood projects, actively promote vocational education cooperation programs such as Luban Workshops, and support CELAC member states in Chinese language education. China will host the China-LAC Bond Chinese Film and TV Programme Showcase, with the goal of completing the dubbing of ten outstanding TV dramas or audiovisual programmes each year.
“China will hold the China-LAC Tourism Dialogue with LAC countries. To further facilitate friendly exchanges between the two sides, China has decided to implement a visa-free policy for the first batch of five LAC countries and will expand the coverage to more countries in the region in due course,” he also announced.
The commitments came days after Chinese Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Miao Deyu said China would strengthen collaboration with Caribbean nations amidst the ongoing global trade challenges.
China, currently the region’s second-largest trading partner after the United States, has supported a range of major development projects across the Caribbean, including the construction of ports, airports, hospitals, and agricultural technology initiatives.
At a press conference ahead of the CELAC meeting, Miao underscored the strategic importance of China’s relationship with the Caribbean.
“Cooperation with Caribbean countries is a key part of China-Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) relations and an important direction of Chinese diplomacy. We attach great importance to relations with Caribbean countries,” he said.
Miao also emphasised China’s interest in better understanding the Caribbean through academic engagement. He noted that Chinese think tanks and universities have established a research centre dedicated to the Caribbean, which will serve to support and inform the deepening of bilateral ties.
“China always pursues the greater good and shared benefits when developing relations with Caribbean countries, and attaches importance to helping with regional development and promotes shared development between the two sides,” the Chinese official said.
Looking ahead, Miao highlighted several key areas for further cooperation, including the blue economy, disaster risk reduction, personnel training, and poverty alleviation. These efforts, he said, are intended to build the region’s capacity for self-development and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both regions.
“I believe there will be a brighter future,” he said. (QSJ)
