On the evening of January 28, 2021, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Bolivian President Luis Arce.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in the past 36 years since China and Bolivia established diplomatic relations, the two countries have made steady progress in bilateral ties. Especially during the Morales administration, the two sides have seen close high-level exchanges, rapid expansion of economic and trade cooperation and sound coordination in multilateral affairs. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has provided Bolivia with material and technical assistance to fight the pandemic through various channels. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Bolivia on COVID-19 vaccines and continue to support Bolivia in the anti-pandemic fight within its capacity.
Xi Jinping stressed that China has always treated Bolivia as a good friend and a good partner, and attached great importance to the China-Bolivia strategic partnership. China supports Bolivia in exploring a development path that fits its national conditions, and in continuously raising the Better Life index of the Bolivian people. China is willing to enhance policy communication and coordination, share governance experience and learn from each other, deepen political mutual trust and support each other. The two sides need to review their practical cooperation to make better plans, and jointly promote Belt and Road cooperation. China is glad to see Bolivia making full use of such platforms as China International Import Expo to promote its quality and featured products. China supports businesses of the two sides in expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure construction, telecommunications and other fields, and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation in accordance with the pandemic situation. The two sides should conduct close cooperation within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and work to build a community with a shared future for mankind. He believes that with joint efforts, the China-Bolivia strategic partnership will continue to achieve new results.
Luis Arce said that the traditional friendship between Bolivia and China is unbreakable. Bolivia values its brotherly friendship with China and sincerely hopes to consolidate and cement Bolivia-China relations. Bolivia thanks China for the invaluable support for its fight against COVID-19, and hopes to receive further support from China. The Bolivian side is willing to enhance synergy of development strategies of the two countries, deepen cooperation in various fields and elevate the Bolivia-China strategic partnership to a new level. Bolivia is ready to work with China in Belt and Road cooperation and to build a community with a shared future for mankind.