China-CELAC Forum issues Beijing Declaration

The Fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum was held in Beijing on Tuesday. At the opening ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, expressing China's readiness to work with Latin American countries to launch five programs, ranging from solidarity, development and civilization to peace and people-to-people connectivity, to jointly pursue development and revitalization as well as build a China-LAC community with a shared future.

The meeting was not only attended by foreign ministers and representatives from the CELAC member states, but also by large delegations led by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chilean President Gabriel Boric. The New York Times cited experts as saying the active participation of so many Latin American governments shows those countries want to "keep Beijing onside."

"Ten years on, with dedicated nurturing of both sides, the Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree. This fills me with deep pride and satisfaction," said President Xi in a vivid metaphor that captured the forum's development journey over the past decade.

The theme of this year's ministerial meeting is about advancing shared development and revitalization and contributing to a China-LAC community with a shared future, which underscores that China and the LAC countries have formed a community with a shared future with common interests. It also reflects the strong will of developing nations to unite for development and solidarity amid changes unseen in a century.

The meeting adopted two major documents - the Beijing declaration of the meeting and the China-CELAC joint action plan for cooperation in key areas (2025-2027) - demonstrating China and Latin America's firm commitment to peace, development and cooperation.

Although China and the LAC countries are geographically distant, their friendship has deep historical roots. As early as the 16th century, Nao de China, or "Ships of China," laden with friendship, shuttled across the Pacific.

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with guests attending the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. Xi attended the opening ceremony of the meeting and delivered a keynote speech. Photo: Xinhua

Today, China-LAC cooperation has become a model for coordinating the process of modernization and sustainable development, continuing to write the great story of shared destiny that transcends oceans and mountains. China has always approached its relationship with Latin America from a strategic and long-term perspective.

President Xi has visited the LAC region six times, frequently met with leaders in the region through bilateral and multilateral engagements and personally outlined the vision for China-LAC relations. Under his guidance, the China-LAC relationship has entered a new stage of equality, mutual benefit, innovation, and openness, with tangible benefits for both peoples.

This has endowed the China-LAC community with a shared future with profound meaning. Held on the 10th anniversary of the forum's formal launch, this meeting is not just about development and revitalization, but also about the pursuit of fairness and justice. It has sent a clear signal to the world of unity, cooperation and jointly addressing global challenges.

China-LAC cooperation has deep historical roots, practical necessities, as well as significant contemporary value. In recent years, political mutual trust between the two sides has continued to deepen, with a growing emphasis on equality and mutual respect.

China has consistently supported LAC countries in choosing development paths suited to their national conditions, in safeguarding their sovereignty and independence, and in opposing external interference. LAC countries that have diplomatic ties with China have continued to support China on core issues, including the one-China principle.

In 2024, China-LAC trade surpassed $500 billion for the first time, more than 40 times the amount at the beginning of this century. Over 20 LAC countries have joined the Belt and Road Initiative by signing different cooperation memoranda with China, and Colombia confirmed its participation in the BRI during the meeting. From Chancay Port to the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate, numerous major projects have taken root and yielded fruitful results. In cutting-edge sectors, such as new energy, photovoltaics, electric vehicles, digital technology and cross-border e-commerce, China-LAC cooperation continues to expand, with mutual benefit and win-win cooperation providing strong momentum for the partnership.

China-LAC cooperation is invigorated by openness and inclusiveness. Internationally, China and LAC countries champion true multilateralism and jointly uphold international fairness and justice. The two sides have spoken in unison on global issues, such as climate change, food security and free trade, promoting a fairer international order. The fundamental goal of China-LAC cooperation is to benefit the people.

From Luban Workshops and numerous "small yet smart" livelihood projects, to the training of technical experts in poverty alleviation; from the "Chinese Bridge" competition and the exchange of outstanding TV dramas, to "the dialogue across oceans" between Chinese and Latin American national treasures, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have made the tree of cooperation grow more vigorous and fuller of branches and leaves.

China and LAC countries have demonstrated through pragmatic cooperation that Latin America is not anyone's "backyard," nor is it a "zero-sum battleground" for major power rivalry. Rather, it is a frontier for development and a fertile ground for win-win cooperation. As long as Global South countries build consensus, consult on development, join hands in cooperation and share the fruits, they can also walk a broad road to prosperity.

As President Xi profoundly noted, "China and LAC countries are important members of the Global South. Independence and autonomy are our glorious tradition. Development and revitalization are our inherent right. And fairness and justice are our common pursuit."

At a time of global turbulence and uncertainty, the further enhancement of the level of China-LAC cooperation will boost confidence in South-South cooperation and provide solid support for practicing multilateralism and advancing economic globalization. The "tree of friendship" jointly planted by China and LAC countries, deeply rooted in the fertile soil of common development, is casting a shade of openness and cooperation for the world.

(Global Times)