- Venezuela praised China for preventing a global “economic catastrophe” amid Trump’s trade wars.
CARACAS, (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) welcomed expanded cooperation with China at the IV China-CELAC Forum held Tuesday in Beijing. President Xi Jinping, in his opening speech, addressed representatives from the 33-nation bloc, including presidents Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Lula da Silva (Brazil), and Gabriel Boric (Chile). Venezuela was represented by Foreign Minister Yván Gil.
“Together, China and Latin American countries champion true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, advance global governance reform and promote multipolarization,” Xi stated at the National Convention Center in the Chinese capital.
The Chinese leader reaffirmed China’s support for Latin America and the Caribbean’s pursuit of “development and sovereignty,” highlighting over 200 infrastructure projects set up under the “Belt and Road” initiative and the US $500 billion of trade achieved between CELAC member-states and China last year.
Warning about the “surging tide of unilateralism and protectionism,” Xi announced five cooperation programs between China and CELAC to promote “shared development and revitalization” and build “a community with a shared future.”
The programs—focused on solidarity, development, civilization, peace and security, and people-to-people connectivity—include a RMB 66 billion yuan (USD $9.2 billion) credit line for CELAC countries’ development and visa-free access for five Latin American nations. The multilateral event was also attended by New Development Bank (NDB) president Dilma Rousseff.
To further encourage solidarity between nations, Xi emphasized support for regional influence in multilateral forums and proposed inviting 300 political party members from CELAC countries to Beijing each year for the next three years to share “good governance practices.”
The Chinese president went on to propose development initiatives that include expanding Belt and Road cooperation, increasing exports from Latin America to China, and encouraging Chinese investment in the region. Xi also reaffirmed commitment to the multilateral trading system.
The civilization program announced at the summit promotes cultural and artistic exchanges, whereas the peace program focuses on cybersecurity, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, and tackling transnational crime.
Finally, the people-to-people initiative includes 3,500 scholarships, language and poverty-reduction training, and 1,000 Chinpese Bridge-funded placements.
Colombian president Gustavo Petro, who currently occupies the pro-tempore presidency of CELAC, welcomed the cooperation plans. He specifically praised the proposal for dialogue between civilizations as “a new step towards a united humanity.” Petro called for building a fiber optic cable connecting Asia and South America and advancing “economic decarbonization.”
President Lula da Silva likewise praised Brazil’s ties with China as the country’s second-largest trading partner and one of the region’s key allies. He emphasized that cooperation with Beijing has enabled infrastructure, agriculture, and energy projects, but urged “better coordination” between Latin American countries to ensure the economic viability of future endeavors.
The IV China-CELAC Forum adopted a 28-point final declaration supporting China’s initiatives and Brazil’s proposed Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. Beijing and the regional bloc committed to expanding cooperation and sustainable development between 2025 and 2027. They also pledged to join efforts to reform the United Nations (UN) and the international financial system to be more equitable and democratic while upholding human rights and international law.
Venezuela praises China for prevailing in “tariff war”
Foreign affairs minister Yván Gil said China’s cooperation plan offers a “comprehensive approach” to strengthen China-CELAC relations.
Gil, who met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday, conveyed president Nicolás Maduro’s solidarity with Beijing in prevailing against the Trump administration’s trade war. On Monday, China and the US agreed to suspend the exceptional import tariffs for at least 90 days and lower respective rates to 10 and 30 percent.
“China has proven itself to be a force for economic stability, preventing an economic catastrophe caused by the tariff war through its strength, resilience, hard work, perseverance, industry, and production,” said Gil.
Earlier this month, Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez visited Beijing to boost political and economic ties, seeking new investments in the oil sector. For his part, Maduro announced that his Chinese counterpart had expressed support for Venezuela’s Seven Transformations Plan (7T).
In 2023, Caracas and Beijing upgraded bilateral ties to an “all-weather strategic partnership,” a special status reserved by the Chinese government for important diplomatic partners.
China provided tens of billions in loans to Venezuela in the first two decades of the 20th century as the Caribbean nation became its most important ally in the region. Chinese credit dried out as Caracas struggled to meet payments under US economic sanctions. Present debt stands at around $10 billion, according to Reuters.
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