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Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
While Trump slashes aid, hikes tariffs, China pumps $9.1B into Latin America
Here's a big story that went almost unnoticed in the U.S. media: China's President Xi Jinping announced a $9.1 billion line of credit, new infrastructure investments and a visa-free policy for several Latin American countries — a sharp contrast to President Trump's moves to raise tariffs, cut foreign aid and tighten visa rules for the region. The Chinese leader made the announcement at the May 13 summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Beijing. The event was attended by the presidents of Brazil, Colombia, Chile and other top officials from about 30 countries. Xi didn't mention Trump by name, but he seized the moment to portray China as a more reliable ally and business partner than the United States. 'There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars,' Xi said in his inaugural speech at the meeting. 'Bullying and hegemonic policies only lead to self-isolation.' He was clearly referring to Trump's tariff increases ranging from 10% to 25% for Latin American nations amid his overall higher global tariff hikes, as well as the U.S. president's estimated 83% cuts in global foreign aid programs. Trump has also tightened visitor entry rules as part of his immigration crackdown — and even vowed to 'take back' the Panama Canal. China's new mega loan to Latin America will allow Chinese companies to increase investments and trade with the region, Xi said. Interestingly, the loan will not be in dollars, but in yuan — part of Xi's strategy to position China's currency as a real alternative to the U.S. dollar. In addition, Xi announced a visa-free entry policy for tourists from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Starting June 1, visitors from these countries will be able to visit China for up to 30 days without a visa. The policy may be extended to other Latin American countries later. Also, China will invite 300 Latin American and Caribbean politicians annually to visit China over the next three years. China's foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian predicted a 'golden decade' for China-Latin American ties, the South China Morning Post reported. In an ironic reversal of roles, China's communist regime is now seen by many countries as a defender of free trade and a rules-based international economic order, while Trump's America is seen as a reckless, populist economic nationalist country. Brazil's left-of-center President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in his CELAC speech that 'President Xi Jinping and I advocate for fair trade based on the rules of the World Trade Organization.' He added, echoing Xi's words, that 'trade wars have no winners.' Granted, China's inroads into Latin America aren't new. It's already the largest export market for several countries in the region, buying much of their soybeans, minerals and other commodities. Total trade between China and Latin America reached a record $500 billion last year, up from $12 billion in 2000. While China's investments in the region have mainly been limited to ports, roads and bridges needed to ship commodity exports, they are diversifying into electric cars, renewable energy and artificial intelligence companies. To be sure, China's economy is struggling, and its new credit line for Latin America will be less than half of what China announced at the first CELAC meeting in 2015. Nevertheless, it helps China portray itself as a better global citizen than Washington. Ryan Berg, an expert on China-Latin America relations with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told me he's most worried about China's planned invitations to 300 Latin American politicians a year to showcase 'China's governance model' to the visitors. 'What the hell is that?' Berg told me. 'Seems like an attempt to message that autocracy is an OK development model.' The fact is that while China is offering new loans, investments, free-entry visas and all-expenses-paid visits for Latin American politicians, the Trump administration is pushing nothing but a negative agenda for the region. When Trump talks about Latin America, it's all about gruesome crimes, drugs and illegal immigration, most often cherry-picking isolated incidents to falsely present them as generalized calamities. And the U.S. president didn't make things better when he was asked about Latin America on his first day back in the White House in January, and said, 'We don't need them, they need us.' In fact, the United States needs Latin America to do better, so it can increase trade, investments, and reduce migration. To be fair, Washington's neglect of Latin America and China's rise in the region began about two decades ago, long before Trump's first presidency. But Trump's failure to present any constructive plans to improve ties with Latin America has elevated the U.S.'s lack of attention to the region to a whole new level. If Trump doesn't come up with a positive agenda for the region, China will fill the vacuum, and the US. president will go down in history as the American leader who 'lost' Latin America to China.
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Xi Jinping's call for strengthened cooperation with Latin America at China-CELAC meeting
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, Beijing, capital of China. Image: Xinhua Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is willing to strengthen solidarity with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and announced five major programs to jointly pursue development and revitalisation with LAC countries on Tuesday. The five programs, solidarity, development, civilisation, peace, and people-to-people connectivity, were announced by Xi while delivering a keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing. On the solidarity program, Xi said China is willing to strengthen solidarity with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and continue to support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns to firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and international order underpinned by international law and to speak with one voice in international and regional affairs. In the next three years, China will invite 300 members from political parties of CELAC member states every year to visit China to facilitate exchanges on national governance best practices, Xi said. Regarding the development program, Xi said China is willing to work with LAC countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, resolutely uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure stable, unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and promote an international environment of openness and cooperation. Noting that the two sides should foster greater synergy between their development strategies and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said China will import more quality products from LAC countries and encourage Chinese enterprises to expand their investment in the region. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ On the civilisation program, Xi called for the joint implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative. He said both sides should uphold the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilisations, champion humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, and enhance China-LAC civilizational exchanges and mutual learning, including through a conference on China-LAC inter-civilizational dialogue. For the peace program, Xi called for the joint implementation of the Global Security Initiative. He said both sides should cooperate more closely in disaster governance, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, narcotics control, and combating transnational organised crime to safeguard security and stability in the region. Regarding people-to-people connectivity, Xi said in the next three years, China will provide CELAC member states with 3,500 government scholarships, 10,000 training opportunities in China, 500 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships, 300 training opportunities for poverty reduction professionals, and 1,000 funded placements through the Chinese Bridge program, initiate 300 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects, and support CELAC member states in developing Chinese language education. China has decided to offer a visa-free policy to five LAC countries and will expand the policy to cover more regional countries in due course, Xi said. Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia, the CELAC rotating chair, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, and Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian president, respectively, addressed the event. The special representative for Yamandu Orsi, president of Uruguay and the incoming CELAC rotating chair, read out the president's congratulatory letter. Faced with a world full of uncertainties, LAC countries and China should work together to promote continuous new progress in building a community with a shared future, they said. Both sides should respect each other and firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and choosing their own development path, they said, calling for strengthening the synergy between the development strategies of LAC countries and the Belt and Road Initiative and promoting cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology, new energy and education. The two sides should also promote exchanges and dialogues among civilizations, safeguard the authority of the UN, support multilateralism and free trade, and oppose unilateralism, protectionism, power politics, and bullying to safeguard the common interests of the Global South, they added. This article was originally published in CGTN.
15-05-2025
- Business
China allows visa-free entry for 5 Latin American nations to boost ties
BEIJING -- China will allow visa-free entry for nationals of five Latin American countries for one year to boost closer connections with the region. Starting June 1, citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will be allowed to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, China's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday. The trial program will be in effect for one year. 'We welcome more foreign friends to visit China, to experience the colorful and vibrant China,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing. Beijing hosted the China-CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Forum earlier this week, aiming at strengthening its alliances in the region as a counterweight to U.S. influence. China has been opening up to dozens of countries including most of the European nations, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia to boost the economy after strict pandemic travel measures. China and Uzbekistan will also begin mutual visa-free entry for up to 30 days starting June 1, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Los Angeles Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
China allows visa-free entry for 5 Latin American nations to boost ties
BEIJING — China will allow visa-free entry for nationals of five Latin American countries for one year to boost closer connections with the region. Starting June 1, citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will be allowed to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, China's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday. The trial program will be in effect for one year. 'We welcome more foreign friends to visit China, to experience the colorful and vibrant China,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing. Beijing hosted the China-CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Forum earlier this week, aiming at strengthening its alliances in the region as a counterweight to U.S. influence. China has been opening up to dozens of countries including most of the European nations, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia to boost the economy after strict pandemic travel measures. China and Uzbekistan will also begin mutual visa-free entry for up to 30 days starting June 1, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Arab Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
China allows visa-free entry for 5 Latin American nations to boost ties
BEIJING, May 15, (AP): China will allow visa-free entry for nationals of five Latin American countries for one year to boost closer connections with the region. Starting June 1, citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will be allowed to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, China's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday. The trial program will be in effect for one year. "We welcome more foreign friends to visit China, to experience the colorful and vibrant China,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing. Beijing hosted the China-CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Forum earlier this week, aiming at strengthening its alliances in the region as a counterweight to US influence. China has been opening up to dozens of countries including most of the European nations, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia to boost the economy after strict pandemic travel measures. China and Uzbekistan will also begin mutual visa-free entry for up to 30 days starting June 1, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
