At the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized China’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Speaking at the eighth round of dialogue between China and CELAC, Wang called for a closer alignment of development strategies to foster mutual growth and prosperity.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, praised CELAC for its significant achievements in strengthening regional dialogue and promoting international cooperation. He highlighted CELAC’s growing influence as a key integration organization in the Western Hemisphere, noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are vital components of the “Global South” and important contributors to global governance.
“Over the past decade, political trust between China and CELAC has deepened, and practical cooperation has expanded,” Wang stated. “China has been the second-largest trading partner for Latin America and the Caribbean, and our collaborative projects under the Belt and Road Initiative are progressing steadily.”
He pointed out that 22 countries in the region have joined the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative, leading to several landmark projects that benefit both sides. The China-CELAC Forum, operational for a decade, has played a crucial role in advancing bilateral relations and promoting sustainable development.
Wang Yi urged both sides to reflect on the achievements of the past ten years and to plan for future cooperation. “We should strengthen political trust and deepen mutual benefit,” he said. “The 10th anniversary of our forum is a significant milestone. Let us design a new cooperation agenda that enhances dialogue and promotes people-to-people exchanges, setting a new foundation for our future collaboration.”
Representatives from CELAC member states praised the fruitful results of China-CELAC cooperation. They expressed appreciation for China’s positive contributions to the partnership and its assistance in promoting sustainable development within CELAC countries.
The CELAC representatives agreed with Wang Yi’s proposals, emphasizing the importance of seizing the opportunity presented by the 10th anniversary of the forum. They expressed a commitment to deepen dialogue, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and establish a new starting point for future collaboration between China and CELAC.
Reference(s):
Wang Yi: China to align development strategies more closely with CELAC
cgtn.com
