China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum is a strategic bridge and framework for dialogue and cooperation, strengthening ties and promoting mutual progress between China and 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Since its establishment in 2010, the Community of CELAC has played a key role as a leader in the regional integration process and since the establishment of the China-CELAC Forum in July 2014, China and the countries of LAC have been contributing to a fairer global economic order based on reciprocity, mutual benefits, equity and justice.

It is important to emphasize that the forum has established itself as a vital mechanism to increase political mutual trust between countries, align development strategies and promote connectivity between China and LAC countries.

The China-CELAC Forum 2025, held in Beijing on May 13, could not be more appropriate, especially at a time when the world is going through enormous economic turbulence, and when dialogue and consensus should prevail.

The establishment of additional tariffs in April 2025 by the Trump administration on countries that maintain trade relations with the U.S. goes against the principles of economic multilateralism, in what is the biggest global economic reconfiguration since World War II.

Negotiation instead of retaliation must be the watchword, while small yards and high fences should not be implemented, a moment in which dialogue must be fundamental so that emerging countries can navigate this complex international environment, protect their interests and identify strategic opportunities for development.

Thus, the attempt to restore American industry through tariffs has been triggering the reconfiguration of global cooperation and the Global South countries are coming together to build their future based on sovereignty and justice.

As a result of the China-CELAC Forum 2025, the Beijing Declaration will contribute to the birth of a new world, opening space for international relations based on equity, respect and self-determination of Global South countries, aiming to build a common shared future for all humanity.

China and the countries of LAC reinforce the importance of promoting bridges, partnership and win-win cooperation always based on reciprocity, mutual benefits and peaceful coexistence, highlighting the strengthening of multilateralism, fairer international trade, a new global economic order based on equity and cooperation, sustainable development, and responsible, constructive and balanced dialogue.

 

 

Areas of technology and sustainability are the new pillars of this China-CELAC exchange, trade and investment, a positive synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the CELAC countries' domestic policies, boosting energy transition and digitalization, as well as developing infrastructure, health, people-to-people exchanges and the acceleration of the economic integration of these embraced countries.

The China-CELAC relationship is long-lasting, marked by a comprehensive multilateral relationship, enhanced by exchange in the spheres of technology, sustainability and inclusion.

The long-term strategic vision, respectful dialogue and the construction of a firm and solid relationship of trust have helped China-CELAC relations evolve, consolidating the political basis of bilateral relations and demonstrating that this fruitful relationship is just beginning, amplifying the voice and influence of these countries, promoting a wider dissemination of information in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres, and bringing greater attention to the issues of the Global South, driven by a common vision and shared objectives, expressing the intention to cooperate.

This will also contribute to the improvement of China-CELAC trade ties. In 2024, for example, China-CELAC foreign trade exceeded $500 billion, 40 times more than that in early 2000.

In this sense, China and the LAC countries are intensifying exchanges and promoting greater exchanges, attracting more and more Chinese foreign direct investment to solve bottlenecks in logistics and sharing cutting-edge technology, including smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, 5G telecommunications, smart cities, e-commerce, digital infrastructure, sustainable low-carbon agriculture, clean energy, aeronautics, aerospace, mining, health, and other potential exchanges, pushing the partnership to a new level and generating new contributions to promoting regional and global prosperity and stability.

What China and LAC countries need most is to promote high-quality partnerships, ushering in a new era of global development, inclusion and openness, with fluidity in technology and connectivity.

In this sense, LAC countries offer food security, mineral security and energy security to China and, without a doubt, the China-CELAC harmony in technology and sustainability are the new foundations of this fruitful China-CELAC relationship that is now beginning to define its next chapters.

 

(Jose Ricardo dos Santos Luz Junior, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is co-chairman and CEO of LIDE China.)