Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Li Guoying reinforced Beijing's commitment to bilateral cooperation during Saturday's inauguration of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, marking a new chapter in the 40-year diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
As Bolivia's capital La Paz celebrated the presidential transition, Li – who also serves as China's water resources minister – delivered personal greetings from Xi to Paz. The envoy emphasized China's willingness to elevate strategic partnerships in infrastructure, resource management, and technology exchange.
"China values its friendship with Bolivia as partners facing global changes together," Li stated during bilateral talks. He highlighted completed projects worth $2.8 billion since 2020, including lithium extraction initiatives critical for electric vehicle battery production.
President Paz reciprocated the goodwill, thanking China for its consistent support and reaffirming adherence to the one-China principle. The Bolivian leader expressed particular interest in expanding agricultural exports to Chinese markets and collaborating on climate resilience strategies.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to establish working groups for sustainable mining practices and cross-continental digital infrastructure development, aligning with China's Belt and Road Initiative objectives.
