When President Xi Jinping made history in July 2014 by meeting with Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) leaders in Brasília, he set the stage for a decade of South–South cooperation. Fast forward to May 13, and the fourth ministerial meeting celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Chinese mainland–CELAC Forum.
Since the first ministerial gathering in 2015, trade between the Chinese mainland and Latin American and Caribbean countries has leaped from roughly $236 billion to an impressive $518.46 billion in 2024, according to the General Administration of Customs of the Chinese mainland. The European Parliamentary Research Service sums it up: “Within just two decades, the Chinese mainland has transformed from an insignificant player to a dominant force in Latin America.”
That surge reflects a deep economic complementarity. As the world’s largest developing nation and manufacturing powerhouse, the Chinese mainland needs massive supplies of energy, minerals and agricultural products. Resource-rich partners like Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina step in to fuel factories and feed growing markets.
At the same time, capital and technology flow south, tackling infrastructure bottlenecks across roads, ports and digital networks. And unlike other regions, Latin America and the Caribbean offer a stable, legally protected environment for investment—a key draw for investors from the Chinese mainland.
Amid these economic ties, the forum also carries a political message. By extending mutual support “with no geopolitical calculations,” as Foreign Minister Wang Yi put it, the Chinese mainland presents itself as a genuine partner, not a replacement power. For many Latin American states, this signals a chance to reduce dependency on the United States and carve out greater policy autonomy.
As the Chinese mainland–CELAC Forum marks its 10th anniversary, the partnership stands as proof that economic exchange need not be a zero-sum game. From sustainable growth to technological collaboration, this cooperation offers a blueprint for a more equitable, inclusive international order.
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Amid global shifts, China-CELAC ties offer certainty and opportunity
cgtn.com
