On December 28, 2021, Chinese Ambassador to Chile Mr. Niu Qingbao published on the website of the joint mainstream media platform of Chile a signed article entitled “China-CELAC Forum Promotes Shared Development and Vitalization of China and Latin America”, which briefed on the outcome documents of the Third Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, cooperation measures as well as the new opportunities that the Global Development Initiative (GDI) will bring to Latin American countries for realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The ambassador emphasized in the article that the meeting will inject new vigor and vitality into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Chile and that China is ready to work with Chile to implement the GDI, play a guiding role and make new contribution to the wellbeing of people of China and Latin America and to the progress of mankind. The full article runs as follows:
On December 3, the Third Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was successfully held via video link. Foreign Ministers of China and CELAC countries and representatives of regional organizations such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean had in-depth discussions on new opportunities for China-Latin America relations around the theme of “Working together to Overcome Difficulties, Creating Opportunities, and Jointly Promoting the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for China and Latin America” and reached extensive consensus on practical cooperation on deepening strategic mutual trust and promoting practical cooperation between China and Latin America in the coming three years. The meeting was a grand gathering of China and Latin American and Caribbean countries to make plans for shared development and a brighter future, which carried great significance. There are several key words to capture the spirit of the meeting.
“One important initiative”. Both China and Latin America are developing countries and comprehensive cooperative partners featuring equality, mutual benefit and shared development. In his video address, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the world has entered a period of new turbulence and transformation. Both China and Latin America are facing the new tasks of promoting post-pandemic recovery and striving for the wellbeing of the people. China welcomes the active participation of Latin America in the GDI and its cooperation to overcome difficulties, create opportunities and jointly build a community of a shared future for global development. The GDI is another important initiative following the BRI, which will promote China-Latin America cooperation in the new era and bring about new opportunities for Latin American countries in realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Two outcome documents”. Action-oriented, the meeting adopted two outcome documents, namely, “The Statement of the Third Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum” and “Action Plan of China and CELAC on Cooperation in Key Areas（2022－2024）”, which demonstrated the clear-cut willingness of the two sides to build a community of a shared future for mankind and jointly deal with global challenges with a roadmap for cooperation in key areas including politics and security, economy, infrastructure, social development and culture, sustainable development and international and regional affairs. China and Latin America will press ahead with priority on development, stick to the defining feature of openness and inclusiveness, pool strength and make continuous efforts to bring cooperation into greater depth and bring more benefits for people of the two sides.
“A series of cooperation measures”. In his keynote speech, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi elaborated on the guidance of the GDI put forward by President Xi Jinping on China-Latin America cooperation and the grand thinking of China working hand in hand with Latin America to build a community with a shared future for global development, with the focus on five suggestions for independent, interrelated, green, open and inclusive development opportunities. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced a series of cooperation measures, including setting up two special loan facilities for China-Latin America cooperation and digital economy cooperation, which will promote practical cooperation in the eight key areas in the GDI and support green, low-carbon, and sustainable development of the two sides; supporting the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund to help Latin America deal with the issue of food security; establishing the China-Caribbean Development Center to provide countries in the region with additional scholarships and training opportunities.
Chile was the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with new China. China-Chile relations have been leading China-Latin America relations and become a shining example of China-Latin America friendship and cooperation. As the first Latin America country to host the ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, Chile is an important contributor and participant for the Forum. Foreign Minister Allamand attended and addressed the ministerial meeting, in which he spoke highly of China-Latin America cooperation, and gave an account of the outcomes of the China-Chile partnership in promoting China-CELAC cooperation.
I believe that the Third Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum will inject new vigor and vitality into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Chile. China is ready to work with Latin America to jointly implement the GDI, play a guiding role and make new contribution to the wellbeing of people of China and Latin America and to the progress of mankind.
