On the morning of May 13, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States at the China National Convention Center and delivered a keynote address. President Xi announced that China stands ready to join hands with its Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) partners to launch five programs that advance shared development and revitalization, and contribute to a China-LAC community with a shared future.

On this vibrant early summer morning, with the national flags of China and LAC countries and the flags of relevant regional organizations billowing together at the China National Convention Center, President Xi cordially shook hands and took a group photo with President Gustavo Petro of Colombia which holds the current CELAC presidency, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and heads of delegations from LAC countries and regional organizations.

Amid warm applause, President Xi delivered a keynote address entitled “Writing a New Chapter in Building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future.”

President Xi recalled attending the opening ceremony of the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing in 2015 together with LAC delegates, which marked the launch of the China-CELAC Forum, and noted the development of the Forum over the past 10 years from a tender sapling into a towering tree with dedicated nurturing of both sides. He reviewed progress in the following aspects: Standing shoulder to shoulder and supporting each other, LAC countries that have diplomatic ties with China have been consistently committed to the one-China principle, and China firmly supports LAC countries in pursuing development paths suited to their national conditions, safeguarding sovereignty and independence, and opposing external interference. Riding the tide of progress together to pursue win-win cooperation and embracing the trend of economic globalization, the two sides have deepened cooperation in trade, investment, finance, science and technology, infrastructure, and many other fields and carried out high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Uniting in tough times to conquer challenges through mutual support, China and LAC countries have collaborated on disaster prevention, mitigation and relief and on joint response to hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters as well as the pandemic of the century. Upholding solidarity and coordination and rising to global challenges with resolve, China and LAC countries champion true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, advance global governance reform, and promote multipolarization of the world and greater democracy in international relations. President Xi said facts have shown that China and LAC countries are advancing hand in hand as a community with a shared future, and this community is founded upon equality, powered by mutual benefit and win-win, invigorated by openness and inclusiveness, and dedicated to the people’s well-being, exhibiting enduring vitality and holding immense promise.

President Xi stressed that the century-defining transformation is accelerating across the globe, with multiple risks compounding one another, which makes unity and cooperation among nations indispensable for safeguarding global peace and stability and for promoting global development and prosperity. He said that there are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars, and bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation. Pointing to the fact that China and LAC countries are important members of the Global South, he said that independence and autonomy is their glorious tradition, development and revitalization is their inherent right, and fairness and justice is their common pursuit. President Xi expressed China’s readiness to join hands with LAC partners to launch five programs that advance shared development and revitalization, and contribute to a China-LAC community with a shared future. 

The first is Solidarity Program. China will work with LAC countries to continue to support each other on issues bearing on their respective core interests and major concerns, firmly safeguard the international system with the U.N. at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and to speak with one voice in international and regional affairs. In the next three years, China will invite 300 members from political parties of CELAC member states every year to visit China.

The second is Development Program. China will work with LAC countries to implement the Global Development Initiative. They will resolutely uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure stable, unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and promote an international environment of openness and cooperation. They will foster greater synergy between their development strategies and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China will increase imports of quality products from LAC countries, and encourage its enterprises to expand investment in the LAC region.

The third is Civilization Program. China will work with LAC countries to implement the Global Civilization Initiative. They should uphold the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, and champion humanity’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. They should enhance China-LAC civilizational exchanges and mutual learning, including through a conference on China-LAC inter-civilizational dialogue.

The fourth is Peace Program. China will work with LAC countries to implement the Global Security Initiative. The two sides will cooperate more closely in disaster governance, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, narcotics control and combating transnational organized crime so as to safeguard security and stability in the region.

The fifth is People-to-People Connectivity Program. In the next three years, China will provide CELAC member states with 3,500 government scholarships, 10,000 training opportunities in China, 500 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships, 300 training opportunities for poverty reduction professionals, and 1,000 funded placements through the Chinese Bridge program. China will initiate 300 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, and support CELAC member states in developing Chinese language education. China will implement a visa exemption for five LAC countries as the first step, and will expand this policy coverage at proper times.

President Xi concluded by emphasizing that no matter how the world changes, China will always stand by LAC countries as a good friend and a good partner, march forward together with them on the paths toward modernization, and work together with them to write a new chapter in building a China-LAC community with a shared future.

Colombian President and the current CELAC president Gustavo Petro, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, and President of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff also delivered addresses. The Special Representative of President Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay, the incoming CELAC president, read a congratulatory message from his president. They spoke highly of the fruitful outcomes of the CELAC-China Forum in the past decade and expressed appreciation for China’s great contribution to advancing LAC-China cooperation and economic and social development in Latin America. They reiterated their commitment to the one-China principle, and commended President Xi’s proposals of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative for opening up bright prospects for world peace, prosperity and progress. They agreed that in a world full of uncertainties, LAC countries and China should work together in solidarity, keep moving forward in building an LAC-China community with a shared future, and jointly create a bright future for LAC-China cooperation. They believe the two sides should uphold mutual respect and firmly support each other in standing up for their sovereignty and independently chosen development paths; further synergize development strategies of Latin American countries with the Belt and Road Initiative, and advance cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology, new energy and education for the benefit of both sides; facilitate exchanges and dialogue among civilizations and enhance mutual understanding and affinity between their peoples; and resolutely uphold the authority of the U.N., safeguard global and regional peace and stability, support multilateralism and free trade, oppose unilateralism, protectionism, power politics and bullying, and protect the common interests of counties in the Global South.

At noon, President Xi held a welcoming banquet for the leaders of LAC countries and heads of delegations.

Cai Qi and Yin Li were present at the events.

Wang Yi moderated the opening ceremony.