Beijing Declaration of the First Ministerial Meeting of
the CELAC – China Forum
1. We, the Foreign Ministers and representatives of the People's Republic of China and the member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum (CCF) under the theme of "New Platform, New Starting Point, New Opportunity - Joint Efforts to Promote China - Latin America and the Caribbean Partnership of Comprehensive Cooperation" on January 8th and 9th, 2015 in Beijing.
2. We appreciate the attendance of the President of China, Xi Jinping, the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís, the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Gladstone Christie and the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, at the opening ceremony.
We recall the I CELAC Summit celebrated in Santiago, Chile, where the Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean instructed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to coordinate efforts in order to establish a “CELAC – China Forum” and the II CELAC Summit held in Havana, Cuba, where the Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean expressed their commitment to the creation of the CELAC – China Forum through the adoption of a Special Declaration.
3. We recognize that the Special Declaration, the China – Latin America and the Caribbean Leaders' Meeting and the Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of CELAC´s Quartet, formed by Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador and Cuba, with China, held in Brasilia in July 2014 were important events in the history of relations between China and the region. These meetings decided to formalize a partnership of comprehensive cooperation for equality, mutual benefit, and common development between the two sides, charting out the course for the long-term development of China-Latin American and the Caribbean relationship, in the framework of the CELAC-China Forum.
We are determined to work together to strengthen our mutual relationship, in the framework of the CELAC-China Forum, fully comply with norms and principles of International Law including the mutual respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity, promote cooperation and equitable and equally beneficial treatment in the trade and economical field, mutual learning in the cultural field, enhance constructive dialogue and close consultation in international affairs, and mutually reinforce all areas of cooperation.
4. We are convinced that the formal establishment of the China-CELAC Forum provides an important platform for the countries to have widespread cooperation. The Forum, led by the CELAC – China Foreign Ministries will address diplomatic, political, economic, science and technology, trade, financial, cultural, social and environmental areas, among others arising from the meetings held within the Forum.
We are guided by the principles of respect, equality, plurality, mutual benefit, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness and non-conditionality; we are resolved to carry out a dialogue in the framework of the Forum´s thematic areas and others added by mutual agreement, through innovative ways of cooperation, in order to promote common sustainable development, social well-being, economic growth and make new contributions to South-South cooperation.
5. Determined to further deepen the partnership of comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, we have reached the following consensus concerning the CELAC - China Forum as a new platform, new starting point and new opportunity for dialogue and cooperation:
- China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, as developing countries and emerging economies, are important forces for the attainment of world peace and prosperity as well as for the promotion of multilateralism and a multipolar world, and greater democracy in international relations.
- The sides are ready to intensify dialogue and collaboration on regional and global affairs of mutual interest, enhance their collaboration on major global issues, strengthen the voice of developing countries in decision-making bodies of multilateral institutions and continue to make positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity.
- China and Latin America and the Caribbean face similar development goals and share broad interests, while recognizing the specific challenges faced by less developed members of CELAC. We agree that our relationship is an important opportunity for mutual development.
- We will actively work to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts including institutionalized dialogues at relevant levels, to strengthen experiences on governance and enhance consultations on international issues.
- Promoting substantial and comprehensive mutual cooperation is a priority. We will work actively to develop a mutually agreed framework for cooperation, based in the follow-up and monitoring of initiatives, programs and projects, in order to promote dialogue on our respective development strategies and macroeconomic policies, transform and upgrade cooperation at a faster pace, aiming at achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development.
- We will strive to increase people-to-people exchanges through greater interaction between legislative bodies, state and local governments as well as young people and other actors of society to promote mutual knowledge and to expand exchanges and cooperation in such fields as education, human resources training, think-tanks, media, culture, sports, science and technology, agriculture, tourism, energy, natural resources and infrastructure.
- The overall cooperation within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum will promote the deepening of comprehensive cooperation between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. In this context, we have adopted the "Plan of Cooperation between China and the Latin American and Caribbean Countries (2015-2019)", identifying the key areas and specific measures of cooperation between China and the region in the next period. We have also adopted the "Institutional Arrangements and Operating Rules of the CELAC – China Forum", in order to build our framework for dialogue and cooperation.
- We agree that the China – Latin America and the Caribbean countries Cooperation Plan 2015 – 2019 from the CELAC – China Forum will be implemented, under the principles of flexibility and voluntary participation, in accordance with the domestic policies and the provisions of the national legal system of each Party, and shall not affect any bilateral cooperation program previously agreed upon by individual parties nor substitute the bilateral agreements, decisions and commitments set between the Parties.
- We will actively explore the possibility of holding a Summit meeting, when conditions are ripe, with the participation of China and CELAC member countries’ leaders, and encourage meetings in specific fields to be held under the framework of the CELAC - China Forum.
- We consider that a special treatment should be given to Caribbean countries regarding the strategies and cooperation projects in the Forum.
6. We decide to conduct, where appropriate, dialogue and cooperation with other regional organizations and institutions of Latin America and the Caribbean, within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum, in order to build a network of comprehensive and balanced cooperation between China and the region. We warmly welcome the participation at this meeting of ECLAC, IDB, and CAF.
7. We are satisfied with the positive outcomes of this meeting. The Latin American and Caribbean side applauds and appreciates China's warm reception, hospitality and meticulous preparation for the meeting.
8. China appreciates the coordinating role Costa Rica has actively played as Pro Tempore Presidency in ensuring the success of the meeting and the active participation of the other CELAC member countries and wishes the Third CELAC Summit to be held in San José, Costa Rica on January 28th and 29th, 2015 a great success.
9. We agree that the Second Ministerial Meeting of the CELAC – China Forum will be held in Chile in January 2018.
