Today marks a vibrant 10-year milestone for the China-CELAC Forum—an event that has redefined cooperation between China and the Latin American and Caribbean region. 🎉 Over the past decade, this partnership has flourished through booming trade, transformative infrastructure projects, and a commitment to shared development values.
Critics, including remarks from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have tried to recast these ties in geopolitical terms. However, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has emphasized, "China-LAC cooperation is South-South cooperation. There is only mutual support in this cooperation, no geopolitical calculations." This clear focus on mutual benefit and respect sets a refreshing tone compared to past external interventions.
The trade figures tell an impressive story: from a modest $12 billion in 2000 to over $500 billion in 2024, with six consecutive years of rapid growth. Countries such as Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay now count China as a key trading partner. 🚀
Chinese companies have been instrumental in modernizing local landscapes—constructing highways in Argentina, hydroelectric power plants in Ecuador, and railway lines in Brazil—thereby driving economic growth and creating jobs. The China-LAC Cooperation Fund, which is aiming for $30 billion in financing, further underscores this dedicated push towards addressing the region’s specific needs.
Since its inception, the Forum has served as a cornerstone for dialogue and collaboration, hosting over 90 events that cover trade, investment, technology, and cultural exchanges. As this decade-long journey is celebrated, the underlying message remains clear: genuine progress is built on mutual respect and shared goals rather than outdated geopolitical strategies. 🤝
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China-CELAC at 10: Mutual benefit, not geopolitics, defines ties
cgtn.com
