China-Latin America Relations: A New Era of Cooperation and Shared Destiny

Strategic Insights -

China and Latin America have long been friendly exchange partners, dating back to the mid-16th century when the "Chinese Ship" loaded with goods crossed the Pacific Ocean and arrived in Acapulco, Mexico, marking the beginning of a Pacific Maritime Silk Road. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Cuba has been the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1960, opening a new era in China-Latin America relations. Today, China-Latin America trade volume has reached a historic $518.4 billion in 2024, doubling from ten years ago, making China the second-largest trading partner of Latin America and the largest for Brazil and Peru. China has also implemented more than 200 infrastructure projects in Latin America, providing nearly one million jobs.

Key Takeaways:

  • China-Latin America relations have been deepened through the construction of a China-Latin America community with a shared future, with President Xi Jinping proposing the concept in 2014 and both China and Cuba jointly building the first bilateral community in the Western Hemisphere.
  • The China-Latin America Forum has become an important platform for building political consensus, launching major initiatives, formulating action plans, and evaluating implementation results, with more than 100 events held over the past decade.
  • China-Latin America trade volume has reached $518.4 billion in 2024, doubling from ten years ago, with China remaining the second-largest trading partner of Latin America and the largest for Brazil and Peru.
  • China has implemented more than 200 infrastructure projects in Latin America, providing nearly one million jobs and benefiting local people.
  • The China-Latin America Civilization Dialogue Forum has been successfully held for seven sessions, with China providing 17,000 government scholarships and 13,000 training opportunities in China to Latin America.
  • China has established 68 Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in 26 countries, promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people bond between China and Latin America.

Statistics:

  • China-Latin America trade volume: $518.4 billion (2024)
  • Number of infrastructure projects implemented by China in Latin America: over 200
  • Jobs created by China's infrastructure projects in Latin America: nearly one million
  • Number of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms established by China in Latin America: 68
  • Number of training opportunities provided by China to Latin America: 13,000
  • Number of government scholarships provided by China to Latin America: 17,000

Sources:

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
  • China-Latin America Forum
  • Granma, official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba