CGTN: China and CELAC usher in new chapter of South-South cooperation
As China hosts the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing this Tuesday, CGTN publishes an article highlighting how China-CELAC cooperation is delivering tangible benefits to local communities. The article also underscores China's sincere commitment to working hand in hand with CELAC countries on five major projects and advancing together on their respective paths to modernization.
BEIJING, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Located in San Salvador, the National Library of El Salvador – a China-aided mega project – has become a modern cultural landmark in the capital city since its inauguration in late 2023.
Spanning 24,000 square meters, the library is open 24/7 and holds over 360,000 volumes. It serves multiple functions, including youth education, art exhibitions, cultural performances, and academic conferences.
The library is among more than 200 infrastructure projects China has supported in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) countries in recent years, which Chinese President Xi Jinping noted during his address at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing on Tuesday.
Xi said those projects have helped create nearly one million local jobs.
Fundamental pursuit to benefit people
Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the official launch of the China-CELAC Forum, Xi said he's pleased to see the China-CELAC Forum grow from a seedling to a tall tree.
China and CELAC countries have built a community with a shared future, featuring equality and mutual benefits, upholding openness and inclusiveness, and aiming to bring tangible benefits for the people, Xi said.
Since 2012, China has been LAC's second-largest trading partner and is now the top partner for Chile, Brazil, and Peru. It has signed free trade agreements with five LAC nations: Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.
As of 2024, bilateral trade reached $500 billion – a nearly 40-fold increase since 2000, according to Chinese Ambassador to Panama Xu Xueyuan.
So far, 23 LAC countries have signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China, Xu said. Notable BRI projects include the Chancay Port – South America's first smart and green port – and the Jamaica North-South Highway.
Inaugurated in November 2024, Chancay Port has cut Pacific shipping time by nearly one-third, lowered logistics costs by 20 percent, and is expected to create over 8,000 direct jobs. Such tangible cooperation has received strong local support. A CGTN poll of 2,500 Latin Americans found that 80.4 percent viewed the BRI as beneficial to regional economic and social development.
Since 1993, China has dispatched 38 medical teams to Caribbean nations, offering care and helping improve local medical capabilities. The same poll showed that 86.2 percent of respondents had a favorable impression of China.
Solidarity and further cooperation
At the gathering, Xi stressed the importance of Global South unity in face of rising unilateralism and protectionism.
China and LAC countries are important members of the Global South, Xi said, adding that 'Independence and autonomy are our glorious traditions, development and rejuvenation are our natural rights, fairness and justice are our common pursuits.'
Facing the undercurrents of geopolitics and camp confrontation, as well as the growing countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism, China is willing to join hands with CELAC countries to launch the five major projects, seek common development and rejuvenation, Xi said.
Detailing the major projects centering on solidarity, development, civilization, security and people-to-people exchanges, Xi called on China and Latin American and Caribbean countries to continue supporting each other on core interest issues and major concerns, maintain close exchanges in all fields, and jointly implement the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.
Xi announced that China will provide CELAC countries with a credit fund of 66 billion yuan (around $9.2 billion) to support their development. Additionally, over the next three years, China will offer 3,500 government scholarships, 10,000 training opportunities, 500 international Chinese language teacher scholarships, and 300 training spots for poverty reduction technologies.
China has decided to offer a visa-free policy to five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and will expand the policy to cover more regional countries in due course, said the Chinese president.
China's recent modernization has boosted confidence in the region. A CGTN poll showed that 82.9 percent of respondents see China's development model as a valuable reference for LAC countries.
Noting China has always been a good friend and partner of LAC countries, Xi called on China and LAC countries to join hands and move forward side by side on respective modernization journeys.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-13/China-and-CELAC-usher-in-new-chapter-of-South-South-cooperation-1Dl5vaucHW8/p.html
Contact:
CGTN,
[email protected]
GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9450561
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
19 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Trump, Xi hold trade call
US President Donald Trump held a long-awaited phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday as the leaders of the world's two biggest economies tried to avoid an allout trade war. Trump said that the call reached a 'very positive conclusion' and that they agreed to meet in person -- but Beijing issued a more muted readout saying that Xi spoke of a need to 'correct the course' of ties. The call -- the first to be publicly announced since Trump returned to power in January -- comes after Beijing and Washington had accused each other of jeopardizing a trade war truce agreed last month in Geneva. 'The call lasted approximately one and a half hours, and resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries,' Trump said on Truth Social, adding that US and Chinese trade teams would hold a new meeting 'shortly.' 'President Xi graciously invited the First Lady and me to visit China, and I reciprocated. As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing,' Trump added. Trump said they would announce the time and place of the 'soon to be meeting' later. The two leaders did not, however, discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Trump said, despite long-standing US hopes that Beijing could exert influence on Moscow to end the war. 'The conversation was focused almost entirely on TRADE,' said Trump, adding that they hoped to have resolved issues over crucial rare earth minerals used in tech products. Relations between superpower rivals Beijing and Washington have been fraught ever since Trump in April introduced sweeping worldwide tariffs that targeted China most heavily of all.
Daily Tribune
20 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Stocks slide as Trump, Xi speak amid trade tensions
Stocks markets slid yesterday after US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke amid their trade war, while the European Central Bank signalled an end to its rate-cut cycle. Wall Street's major indices rose modestly as trading got underway, but had trouble holding onto the gains and soon slid into the red. Chinese state media reported that Xi had held a widely anticipated call with Trump, with investors hoping it could ease trade tensions -- but no details were provided. The call follows officials from the world's two biggest economies accusing each other of jeopardising a trade war truce agreed last month in Geneva. 'The stock market has traded more timidly of late... mindful that there are a number of loose ends out there on the tariff front, not the least of which is the direction the US-China trade relationship is headed,' said analyst Patrick O'Hare. After his return to the White House Trump launched a tariffs blitz, introducing a 10 percent minimum tariff and higher rates on many countries, with China subject to the highest rates. Some of the higher rates have been suspended as negotiations are underway. European stock markets were also in the red even though the ECB cut its key deposit rate a quarter point to two percent, as expected. It was its eighth reduction since June last year when it began lowering borrowing costs. But ECB President Christine Lagarde stated the central bank is 'getting to the end' of the rate cutting cycle, as inflation has largely dropped to its two percent target in the 20-nation currency bloc. That sent the euro surging against the dollar and European stocks gave up gains. The ECB's series of cuts stands in contrast to the US Federal Reserve, which has kept rates on hold recently amid fears that Trump's levies could stoke inflation in the world's top economy. Investors are now looking to the release on Friday of US non-farm payrolls data, which the Fed uses to help shape monetary policy. Other data released this week has been mixed. April jobs openings data beat expectations, but according to payroll firm ADP private-sector jobs rose by only 37,000 last month. This was a sharp slowdown from April's 60,000 and less than a third of the amount forecast in a Bloomberg survey. Another survey showed activity in the US services sector contracted in May for the first time since June last year.
Trade Arabia
4 days ago
- Trade Arabia
ITB China 2025 breaks records with 35% attendee surge
ITB China 2025, the premier B2B trade show dedicated to the Chinese travel market, reported a record-breaking success with the event welcoming more than 20,500 attendees, marking a 35% year-over-year growth in attendance. The event featured a 30% expansion in net exhibition area compared to 2024 and welcomed over 700 exhibitors from 85 countries. The attendees included 1,400 high-quality buyers and around 280 media representatives – reflecting the soaring demand and global interest in China's travel market. It also facilitated over 38,800 high-value business meetings, establishing a new standard for industry engagement. At the ITB China Conference, 150 high-profile speakers delivered insights on 60 diverse topics, fostering innovation and driving global collaboration across the tourism industry. ITB China 2025 set new records in scale and innovation, marking a pivotal moment for international engagement with China's travel industry. The three-day show attracted a record number of exhibitors and participants, delivered high-impact content and facilitated valuable business opportunities, strongly reflecting the market's renewed dynamism. Leading figures from across the travel sector showcased their latest offerings and solutions, demonstrating a clear and collective commitment to unlocking growth in China's dynamic travel market, a statement said. David Axiotis, Managing Director, Messe Berlin China, reflected: 'ITB China 2025 stands as a landmark success – uniting a record-breaking international presence with cutting-edge insights that are shaping the future of travel. From the resurgence of Chinese cross-border tourism to the rise of smart, themed, and personalized travel, this year's show not only reflected the market momentum, but clearly accelerated it. By fostering global collaboration, spotlighting innovation, and amplifying the voice of China's travel industry, we are actively shaping the travel landscape of tomorrow.' Top-Level gathering The impactful C-Talks welcomed more than 30 senior C-level executives from China's leading outbound travel companies and high-ranking officials from national tourism boards and ministries worldwide to discuss how Chinese key industry players can collaborate more effectively with international destinations to foster resilient and sustainable growth in today's complex global landscape. The highly successful gathering is a testament to ITB China's ability to convene key figures from the Chinese market and the global travel industry. This year's show welcomed an all-time high of 1,400 hand-picked buyers from across China and around the world, including representation from all Chinese provincial-level regions – a first in the show's history – as well as inbound buyers from 19 countries, such as Germany, Italy, UK, France, and the US. Over the course of the three-day show, the buyers engaged in more than 38,800 meetings with over 700 exhibitors, fostering valuable partnerships and new collaborations. The positive feedback from attendees further solidifies ITB China's position as the premier travel event in China. Norhayati Zainuddin, Deputy Director / Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, this year's Partner Destination, emphasised: 'Since we brought a larger delegation from Malaysia this year, the feedback from our Malaysia sales staff has been very positive. As they have met many buyers during the business meetings, not only from China but also from other countries, they were able to close more deals. They were happy with this year's participation and hope to participate again at next year's ITB China.' Aileen Chan, Expedia Group's Vice President, Private Label Solutions, APAC, shared: 'We are seeing surging demand from different travel segments in the China travel market. Based on our recent research, 87% of Chinese travelers said they will travel internationally – this percentage is way higher than the global average of about 68%. Around 65% of Chinese travelers say they are likely to increase their travel budget, which is something we are really excited about.' An official from the Hubei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism stated: 'ITB China is a vital platform for boosting international tourism cooperation. The Hubei delegation, made up of eight cities and over 60 key companies, introduced two premium travel routes and highlighted cultural and tech experiences like intangible heritage displays and tea tasting. They held more than 200 business meetings with buyers from around the world, seeing strong results. Hubei is working to become a world-renowned cultural tourism destination and looks forward to expanding global partnerships.' Li Zhuyuan, Executive President and Secretary-General of MICE Committee of China Association of Travel Services, said: 'China's MICE market is huge and is an industry that can create higher added value. The development of AI technology poses challenges to offline manual operations, but it is also an inevitable trend. We should embrace the arrival of new technologies and let it create higher value for the MICE industry.' Kim Daeyong, Legal representative of China Regional Corporation of Modetour Network, said: 'China's visa-free policy has had a significant impact on Korean tourists traveling to China. For our company, business in the first half of this year increased by more than 20% compared to last year. We met many Chinese partners at ITB China this time, and they were all very enthusiastic, which will be very helpful for us in developing new Chinese tourism products in the future.' Key themes The 'China Outbound Travel' theme highlighted how new products and innovations are reshaping group tours. Overseas destinations are meeting the diverse needs of Chinese travelers by offering local, tailored services, and using new media to efficiently convert interest into bookings. The 'China Inbound Travel' theme offered insights from the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) into China's inbound tourism growth and its economic impact. It further highlighted market differences and content marketing strategies for revitalizing cultural destinations, as well as demonstrating how rural tourism can promote sustainable global growth. The 'MICE & Business Travel' theme highlighted how cultural experiences are energizing MICE tourism and examined China's growth in the global convention market. Additionally, it emphasized the role of business associations in fostering cooperation and shared global insights on travel supply and the promising role of AI in business travel management. With a focus on the strong recovery of China's upscale hotel market, the 'Hotel and Hospitality' theme explored how localized experiences boost competitiveness, analyzed brand diversification strategies in profit models, and highlighted the ways in which AI and big data are driving deep industry transformation. The 'Travel Tech Innovation' theme delved into smart tech and innovation across three key areas: destination management, hotel services, and sustainable tourism. It covered topics ranging from AI and digital travel to extended reality (XR), demonstrating how these technologies, such as smart robots, are shaping the future of hospitality. In response to the growing demand for personalised, internet-based travel products in China's increasingly segmented outbound market, ITB China launched six panels dedicated to themed and customized travel. Senior Tourism, Educational Travel, Cruise Travel, Customized Travel, Luxury Travel, and Adventure Tourism. Networking Events Further valuable opportunities for attendees to connect and collaborate were provided at ITB China. The prestigious Grand Opening Dinner, held in partnership with this year's Partner Destination, Malaysia, featured 700 guests and VIPs from the global and Chinese travel industry. Welcome speeches were given by the Honorable Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia; Xu Peng, Vice Chair, World Tourism Alliance (WTA); and David Ruetz, Senior Vice President of Messe Berlin. Other events included the Hubei Networking Lunch with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Hubei Province, the Cruise Night with Group, the Beijing Night with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Guangxi Night with the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Travel Innovators Gathering, sponsored by Tencent Smart Tourism; the Aftershow Sundowner, the MICE Afterparty, and the 'Meet the Media' networking event.
