As the China-CELAC Forum celebrates its 10th anniversary this week, leaders from China and Latin American and Caribbean nations gather to highlight a partnership defined by mutual respect and concrete results rather than geopolitics. Since the Forum’s launch in 2014, this South–South cooperation model has grown into a powerful engine for trade, infrastructure and cultural exchange.
Despite recent criticisms invoking Cold War rhetoric—most notably from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio—China and its partners in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States continue to reject any notion of sphere-of-influence politics. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi underscores this stance, stating, “China–LAC cooperation is South–South cooperation. There is only mutual support in this cooperation, no geopolitical calculations.” This spirit of equality contrasts sharply with past external interventions in the region.
The data tell a compelling story. Trade between China and LAC soared past $500 billion in 2024, up from roughly $12 billion in 2000, marking six consecutive years of accelerated growth. Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay now count on China as their top trading partner. Meanwhile, the China–LAC Cooperation Fund, targeting $30 billion in financing, continues to fuel projects from highways in Argentina to hydroelectric dams in Ecuador and railway upgrades in Brazil.
Beyond numbers, local communities are seeing real benefits. New transportation corridors have cut travel times and boosted tourism, while energy projects have expanded grid access and created thousands of jobs. Cultural exchanges, academic scholarships and technology transfer programs further strengthen people-to-people bonds, fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers across both regions.
As ministers convene this week, they will chart the next chapter for China–CELAC cooperation. With 90+ joint events already under the Forum’s belt, participants aim to deepen collaboration in green energy, digital trade and sustainable agriculture. After a decade defined by trust and tangible impact, the China-CELAC Forum stands poised to drive South–South development forward into its second decade.
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China-CELAC at 10: Mutual benefit, not geopolitics, defines ties
cgtn.com
