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DECLARATION OF THE THIRD MINISTERS’ MEETING OF THE CHINA-CELAC FORUM
MFA
2021-12-09 22:13

1. We, the Member States of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the People’s Republic of China, meeting on December 3, 2021, celebrate the Third Ministers’ Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum (CCF) to discuss around "Together Overcoming Current Difficulties and Creating Opportunities to continue building a China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Community”.

2. We thank Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for delivering video remarks at the opening ceremony of the Meeting.

3. We recall that since the Second Ministerial Meeting of the CCF held in Santiago, Chile, both sides have actively implemented the Declaration of Santiago, the China and CELAC Joint Plan of Action for Cooperation on Priority Areas (2019-2021), the Special Declaration of Santiago of the II Ministerial Meeting of the CCF on the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Joint Statement of the Special Video Conference of China and Latin American and Caribbean Countries’ Foreign Ministers on COVID-19, while achieving fruitful results in the development of the CCF. We thank Costa Rica, El Salvador, Bolivia, and Mexico for their contributions to developing the CCF during their terms as Pro Tempore President of CELAC.

4. We believe that cooperation within the framework of CCF during the last four years has played an important role in strengthening trust, promoting sustainable socio-economic development, jointly responding to challenges related to COVID-19, strengthening CELAC as a mechanism for coordination, advancing regional integration in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), deepening the relations between both Parties as well as South-South and triangular cooperation, thus laying a solid foundation for the sustainable and inclusive development of this Forum.

5. We are determined to work together to consolidate the role of the CCF as the main platform of China-LAC cooperation and solidarity on the basis of respect, equality, plurality, inclusiveness and observance of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace; to strengthen and expand practical cooperation in various fields within the framework of the CCF; and continue to deepen the China – LAC relationship for a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and benefits for the people and to jointly build a China-LAC relationship. That is why we adopted the China-CELAC Joint Action Plan for Cooperation in Key Areas (2022-2024).

6. We recall the Special Declaration of Santiago of the II Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum on the Belt and Road Initiative (2018), whereby the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CELAC welcomed, with interest, the presentation of the Chinese Foreign Minister on the Belt and Road Initiative for deepening cooperation among Latin American and Caribbean Countries and China in the economic, trade, investment, cultural and tourism sectors, among others.

7. We will explore the possibility of holding a CCF Summit in 2024 on the occasion of its tenth anniversary.

8. China and CELAC member states, are important forces for the maintenance of international peace and security, promoting and protecting human rights, upholding multilateralism, promoting sustainable, inclusive and resilient development, eliminating poverty and reducing inequalities. We stand ready to intensify communication and coordination on issues of common interest in multilateral and international forums, and to jointly address global challenges together.

8.1 We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic reveals once again that we live in an interconnected world. In this regard, we must jointly uphold peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are common values of humanity. We highlight China’s vision to promote the building of an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

8.2 We emphasize the need for mutual respect of the sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, dignity and territorial integrity of States, their right to development and to have social security systems, seeking to address each of the States concerns and persisting in the resolution of disputes by peaceful means. We reject the threat or use of force as a means of conflict resolution, as well as unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law and the UN Charter, which threaten the sovereignty and stability.

8.3 We believe that the overall trend toward a multi-polar world, economic globalization and greater democracy in international relations has not changed. We need to call on the international community to foster a new type of international relations based on international law and multilateralism, mutual respect, equity, justice, and win-win cooperation and to shape a resilient world that is more fair and equitable to tackle common urgent challenges.

8.4 We agree on the need to uphold international law and promote the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), strengthen and revitalize the UN as the best tool to face today's global challenges. In this regard, we further agree on the need to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that must guide the actions of the States in international affairs, and defend the UN-centered multilateralism.

8.5 We reiterate that solidarity, mutual assistance and cooperation are essential to overcome the damages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We highly value that both sides have always shown solidarity and mutually helped each other, as well as have carried out diversified and fruitful anti-pandemic cooperation. We agree to continue to strengthen cooperation in this matter, urging the international community to ensure that developing countries have fair and equitable, prompt, supportive and affordable access to vaccines and medicines to address COVID-19, as global public goods based on the measures established in UN General Assembly resolution 74/274. We call for science-based cooperation on origins tracing of the pandemic and oppose its politicization.

8.6 We recognize the importance of the multilateral trading system as fundamental for the sustainable and inclusive development of our peoples. We will also seek to intensify the cooperation and dialogue within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to jointly defend a multilateral system of trade, that is transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive, and which is rule based, in order to promote global trade and sustainable development in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner. We accordingly reject unilateralism and protectionism.

8.7 We welcome the Global Development Initiative presented by China, considering that it may have the potential to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to pursue more robust, greener and balanced global development, in order to leave no one behind.

8.8 We must fully, effectively and continuously implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, in light of the principles of equity, of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities according to different national circumstances and the institutional arrangements for nationally determined contributions (NDC). 

8.9 We welcome the celebration of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Phase II) that will take place in Kunming, China, in April 2022, and support the adoption of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

8.10 We call on the international community to actively advance the global cause of human rights, especially intensify the protection of the rights of children, adolescents, young people, the elderly, persons with disabilities and indigenous people, afro-descendants and other groups in vulnerable situations.

8.11 We agree to the strengthening of a dialogue for cooperation, implement and eventually develop norms and rules for cyberspace: to tackle the misuse of information and communication technologies (ICT) to incite and commit acts of terrorism; improve legal assistance mechanisms for cyber crime; participate actively at negotiations to elaborate a UN convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, and safeguard peace and security in cyberspace. We highlight the Global Initiative on Data Security proposed by China.

9. The CELAC Member States express their warm congratulations on the centenary of the founding the Communist Party of China, and recognize China's significant achievements in fighting extreme poverty. Both China and CELAC also celebrate the eleventh anniversary of the foundation of the CELAC. Both Parties stand in solidarity to strengthen mechanisms through mutually sharing experiences on poverty reduction, and jointly advance the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, taking into account the national priorities of the CCF countries. China congratulates many of the CELAC Member States on their respective bicentenary.

10. China acknowledges the revitalization of CELAC and the cooperation with extra-regional actors during the ten years since its founding, and welcomes the important results reached at the Sixth Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC held in September 2021. Both Parties agree that CELAC should play a greater role in political concertation and in the promotion of the regional integration process in Latin America and the Caribbean.

11. We congratulate China for hosting the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and extended best wishes for the successful staging of these events, where athletes from CELAC member states are welcome to actively participate.

12. We welcome the participation of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Development Bank of Latin America in this CCF Ministerial Meeting, and reiterate our willingness to develop spaces for dialogue and cooperation with various regional organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean, to promote the construction of an open, inclusive, comprehensive and balanced cooperation network between China and LAC in its entirety.

13. We express satisfaction with the positive outcomes of this Meeting. CELAC Member States commend and thank China for making thoughtful arrangements for the Meeting. China commends and thanks Mexico, Pro Tempore President of CELAC, for actively coordinating the participation of CELAC Member States.

14. We agree to maintain active communication on the date and place of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the CCF.

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