China and Latin America ramp up cooperation
An employee of a cold chain logistics center at the Port of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, inspects a batch of cherries from Chile. In recent years, about 80% of Chile’s exported cherries are consumed by China. Photo: ZJ.PEOPLE.CN
SHANGHAI—At an international symposium on Aug. 24, scholars from China, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Colombia discussed the cooperation between China and Latin America in global governance.
Li Jinzhang, former Chinese vice foreign minister and former Chinese ambassador to Brazil, said that Latin American countries such as Brazil adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities on climate change between developed and developing countries. In addition, they actively maintain the current global free trade system and oppose unilateralism while being constructive reformers of the international financial system. China and Latin American countries share common interests and can enhance each other strategically.
In 2018, the trade volume between China and Latin America reached over $300 billion for the first time, and the bilateral trade structure continued to optimize. China’s investment in Latin America has reached over $380 billion, and Latin America has become the second largest destination for Chinese overseas investment after Asia. More than 2,000 Chinese enterprises have invested in Latin America, creating more than 1.8 million jobs for the region.
At present, unilateralism has risen and regional trade protectionism has prevailed, which is not conducive to global free trade. China’s accession to the global trading system has improved the lives of many people around the world and has fueled economic growth in many countries, said Carlos Aquino, head of the Asian Studies Center at the National University of San Marcos in Peru. The Latin American region as a whole lacks consensus on the prospects for globalization and free trade. As such, Latin America should strengthen its trade relations with China.
Peru and other Latin American countries have signed a free trade agreement with China. Chile’s experience in this regard is particularly worth learning, Aquino continued. In recent years, Chile has made full use of the free trade agreement signed with China and has made a lot of profits in trade with China. At present, Chile has become one of the countries with the largest export volume in Latin America, and its largest trading partner is China. Chile’s products such as salmon, red wine and cherries are marketable in China and occupy a huge share. Other Latin American countries should follow Chile as an example to further trade with China.
Alicia Girón, an economics professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, suggested China and Latin America jointly establish a development bank to facilitate bilateral trade. This will not only provide support for the SMEs on both sides, but also create financing channels. Such a bank will help promote cooperation between the two sides in infrastructure construction and investment.
The participating experts also shed light on the cooperation between China and Latin America in climate governance.
Andreia Costa Vieira, a professor of international economic law and the environment at the Catholic University of Santos, Brazil, said that China and Latin American countries share common ground in reducing environmental pollution and improving forest protection, which provides the basis for bilateral cooperation. For climate governance, the use of renewable and clean energy is very important. Latin American countries such as Brazil have great potential in the production and use of renewable and clean energy, but much more work has yet to be done.
Xu Shicheng, an honorary Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China and Latin American countries can make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms and resources in the field of climate governance, and they can establish partnerships at multiple levels and in multiple channels. For example, in terms of financial support, China can assist Latin American countries in addressing climate change through established funds.
China and Latin America can cooperate in terms of climate monitoring and disaster warning, Xu continued. They can also encourage collaboration on climate governance through economic and scientific and technological cooperation, facilitating clean energy, ecological protection, green agriculture and low-carbon smart cities.
edited by JIANG HONG
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