1. The 1st China-LAC Infrastructure Cooperation Forum
Hosted by: Ministry of Commerce of China
Briefing: The Forum was held in Macao, China, on June 4th and 5th, attended by over 700 representatives of government departments, financial institutions, industrial associations and the business community from China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Officials from 12 LAC states such as Vice-President and Minister of Finance of Costa Rica Helio Fallas Venegas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development of the Bahamas Philip DAVIS, and representatives of Inter-American Development Bank were present.
Deputy Prime Minister Philip DAVIS and Deputy China International Trade Representative Zhang Xiangchen addressed the opening ceremony. One thematic forum, two promotion fairs and over 30 business talks were held during the two-day Forum. Participants conducted discussions on how to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in infrastructure between China and LAC countries. Ecuador and seven other countries also briefed the participants about the infrastructure development plans and major projects of their countries.
As the first specialized sub-forum under China-CELAC Forum, the 1st China-CELAC Infrastructure Cooperation Forum offers an important platform for the two sides to conduct cooperation in the field of infrastructure,and to match their industries and achieve complementarity.
2. The 2nd China-LAC Young Political Leaders Forum
Hosted by: Central Committee of the Communist Youth League
Briefing: The Forum was held in Beijing on July 31st, attended by nearly 100 participants including young political leaders from Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, and diplomats from LAC countries in China and Chinese representatives. Youth representatives from the two sides compared notes on the theme of "promoting youth participation and facilitating youth entrepreneurship".
3. The 1st China-CELAC Science and Technology Innovation Forum
Hosted by: Ministry of Science and Technology of China and Secretariat of Advanced Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ecuador
Briefing: The Forum was held in Quito, capital city of Ecuador, on September 16th and 17th, which was the first sub-forum under China-CELAC Forum co-hosted by China and the rotating presidency of CELAC. The Forum was attended by over 200 representatives from China, CELAC member countries, UNESCO, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC) including Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology of China, Jorge Glas Espinel, Vice-President of Ecuador, Ernesto Samper, Secretary General of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Wang Yulin, Chinese Ambassador to Ecuador, and René RAMIREZ, State Secretary of Advanced Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ecuador.
Vice-President Glas and Minister Wan Gang addressed the opening ceremony. China announced the formal launching of "China-LAC Science and Technology Partnership" and "China-LAC Young Scientists Exchange Program". Representatives of China and Ecuador jointly cut the ribbon for the "Exhibition of China's Science and Technology Innovation Achievements", and unveiled the TD-LTE joint laboratory.
During the two-day Forum, China and CELAC countries held a roundtable of ministers for science and technology, where ministers and representatives of the two sides shared experiences on making progress on "Innovation Ecosystem", analyzed existing opportunities and challenges, and explored the trend for future scientific and technological innovation.
4. The 5th China-Latin America and Caribbean Region People-to-People Friendship Forum
Hosted by: Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)
Briefing: The Forum was held in Hangzhou of China's Zhejiang Province on September 16th, attended by over 100 senior officials and representatives from China and 21 Latin American and Caribbean states including Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda Rodney Williams, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Antigua and Barbuda Charles Fernandez, Vice-Governor of Zhejiang Province Liang Liming, CPAFFC Secretary General Li Xikui, and Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs Yin Hengmin.
5. The 9th China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit
Hosted by: China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
Briefing: The Summit was held in Guadalajara , Jalisco, Mexico on October 13th and 14th, attended by around 800 officials and business leaders from China and LAC countries including Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Luo Fuhe, Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas, Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, Chairman of the Foreign Trade Commission Valentín Diez Morodo, Director General of ProMéxico Francisco N. González, CCPIT Vice-President Zhang Wei and Lu Pengqi, Chinese Ambassador to Mexico Qiu Xiaoqi, and Assistant Governor of Hebei Province Yin Yali.
The theme of the Summit was "New Trends-Big Opportunities: Moving forward together". Representatives from China and LAC countries compared notes on how to jointly build China-LAC partnership of comprehensive cooperation, promote trade transformation and upgrading, make new progress in investment cooperation, and strengthen business and city cooperation in innovation, contributing their wisdom on deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.
6. The 1st Meeting of China-CELAC Political Parties Forum
Hosted by: International Department of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC) and Movimiento Alianza Pais of Ecuador
Briefing: The Forum was held in Beijing on December 8th and 9th, attended by 58 representatives from 27 political parties of 26 Latin American and Caribbean states.
Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao met with representatives from LAC side. Minister Song Tao of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and Vice-President of Ecuador and Vice-President of Movimiento Alianza Pais Jorge Glass gave keynote speeches at the opening ceremony. Representatives of the Quartet members of CELAC including President of the Citizens' Action Party of Costa Rica Magarita Bolaños, Member of the Political Committee of the Dominican Liberation Party Julio Valentin, and Senator Harcourt Husbands of the Democratic Labour Party of Barbados also addressed the opening session.
Focusing on the theme of "Innovation, Development, Cooperation and Future – Challenges and Response of the CPC and CELAC Political Parties", participants from the two sides exchanged views on five topics of "Political Parties in the 21st Century", "Economic Development", "Poverty Alleviation", "Paths of Development" and "China-CELAC Cooperation". The meeting adopted the Declaration of the First Meeting of China-CELAC Political Parties Forum.
