Successfully held Seminar in Peru on Building a Community with a Shared Future between China and LAC

By Juan Carlos Aguiar

On November 5, the seminar “Advancing through wind and rain: jointly building a community of shared China-Latin America and the Caribbean” was held in Lima, capital of Peru, promoted by the China International Communications Group ( CICG, its acronym in English) and the Three Gorges Corporation (CTG).

The event, organized by CICG’s Center for the Americas (China Today) and CTG’s China Yangtze Power, brought together important representatives from the political, business and academic sectors of China and Peru. Participants exchanged experiences and reflections on cooperation between the two nations to strengthen the shared future between China and Latin America (LAC).

Li Yafang, director-general of CICG’s Center for the Americas, led the ceremony, which was attended by Gao Anming, editor-in-chief of CICG; Gustavo Cordero Jon Tay, president of the Peru-China Parliamentary Friendship League; Qu Weihua, vice president of China Changdian International; and Enrique Cornejo, former Minister of Transport and Communications of Peru.

Also present were Eduardo Yong Motta, president of the Chinese Peruvian Institute; Mario Gonzales, general manager of Luz del Sur; Wang Lei, an academician at Beijing Normal University; and Carlos Aquino, director of the Center for Asian Studies at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.

Strengthening bonds

Gao Anming highlighted that 2024 will celebrate ten years of President Xi Jinping’s proposal to build a community with a shared future between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, in addition to the launch of the China-CELAC Forum. In this decade, according to him, cooperation has been characterized by equality and mutual benefit.

“First, mutual political trust has improved, and diplomacy between heads of state has promoted stability and development,” Gao said. Secondly, he highlighted increased economic and trade cooperation, with trade in goods reaching nearly $500 billion by 2023, while China remained LAC’s second-largest trading partner and third-largest source of investment.

Finally, Gao highlighted the growing cultural, educational and friendly connection between China and LAC, stating: “Friendship between countries lies in the friendship between their people; Only a sincere friendship can be lasting.”

Later, Gustavo Cordero Jon Tay highlighted China’s modernization and his desire for Latin America and the Caribbean to move in the same direction. “China promotes values ​​of development, social justice and modernization for Latin America and the Caribbean, aiming to improve the quality of life of citizens and strengthen diplomatic and bilateral relations,” he said.

Business relations

Qu Weihua celebrated the collaboration between China and Peru in the electricity sector, noting that China Yangtze Power (CYPC) provides high-quality electricity to 1.3 million Peruvian users and is active in the development of renewable energy such as wind and solar.

Furthermore, Qu expressed his hope that China and Peru “can continue to work together to build a China-LAC community of shared future and promote the economic development and social progress of both countries and the region as a whole.

Enrique Cornejo, former Peruvian minister, recalled the long friendship between China and Peru and highlighted that the current moment is ideal to further strengthen this relationship, aiming for mutual benefit. “President Xi Jinping’s proposal for a new Silk Road for the 21st century coincides with the Peruvian vision of regional leadership, focused on the Indo-Pacific”, he commented.

Wang Lei, from Beijing Normal University, mentioned that since 2014, China and LAC have been advancing in building a community with a shared future, based on multilateralism, justice and equity. He emphasized that both peoples have promoted mutual benefits and played a more active role on the global stage, reflecting a commitment to local development.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of both peoples and increasingly close cooperation, it was possible to achieve greater well-being and mutual benefits. In the process of modernization, both parties achieved not only a more relevant role on the international stage, but also injected energy to boost development and global progress, in addition to renewing the confidence of developing countries and regions.”

Wang also highlighted that, just as the Chinese people understood that the “path to modernization is not the same as Westernization, Europeanization or Americanization, but must be adjusted to the realities of each country”, in Latin America and the Caribbean “also emerged the idea of ​​adapted local development, which promotes growth based on an in-depth analysis of the history and reality of the region.”

The seminar also had important moments, such as the donation of the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (IV)made by Gao Anming, and the launch of the special Spanish edition of the magazine China Todayentitled “China-Latin America: the Embrace of Two Worlds”.

The event concluded with the “Cultural Exchange Forum between Young Chinese and Peruvians”, in which young entrepreneurs from both countries shared experiences on the path to a successful future.

Translation and editing: Filipe Porto