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The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum

source：Silk Road Dialogue Committee|Release time：2025-05-23|Number of views：

President Xi Jinping Attends the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum and Delivers a Keynote Speech

The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum(图1)

On the morning of May 13, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China–Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum at the China National Convention Center and delivered a keynote speech. In his address, President Xi Jinping announced that China and Latin American and Caribbean countries will jointly launch five major initiatives to promote development and revitalization, and work together to build a China–CELAC community with a shared future.

In early summer, vitality is in the air. Inside the China National Convention Center, the national flags of China, Latin American and Caribbean countries, along with the flags of relevant regional organizations, formed a vibrant and colorful display.

The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum(图3)

On the morning of May 13, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China–Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum at the China National Convention Center in Beijing and delivered a keynote speech.This photo shows President Xi Jinping posing for a group photo with the attending guests. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

President Xi Jinping cordially shook hands and posed for a group photo with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the rotating chair of CELAC, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, as well as heads of delegations from Latin American and Caribbean countries and regional organizations.

Amid warm applause, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech titled "Writing a New Chapter in Building a China–Latin America Community with a Shared Future".

The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum(图4)

President Xi Jinping pointed out that in 2015, together with representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries, he attended the opening ceremony of the first Ministerial Meeting of the China–CELAC Forum in Beijing, announcing the establishment of the Forum. Over the past 10 years, with careful cultivation by both sides, the China–CELAC Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a tall and sturdy tree. The two sides have worked hand in hand, supporting each other. Latin American and Caribbean countries that have established diplomatic relations with China have always adhered to the One-China principle, while China has firmly supported the Latin American countries in pursuing development paths that suit their national conditions and maintaining their sovereignty and independence, as well as opposing external interference. Both sides have ridden the tide, achieving win-win cooperation in response to the trends of economic globalization, deepening practical cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, finance, technology, and infrastructure, and jointly building the "Belt and Road" with high quality. The two sides have helped each other through difficult times, actively carrying out disaster prevention, reduction, and relief cooperation, joining hands to face natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and the pandemic. They have worked together, embracing true multilateralism, jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice, advancing global governance reform, promoting a multipolar world, and democratizing international relations. Facts have proven that China and Latin America have become a community of shared destiny, with equality as the core value, mutual benefit as the driving force, openness and inclusiveness as the spirit, and the fundamental pursuit of benefiting the people. This partnership is full of vitality and has vast development prospects.

President Xi Jinping emphasized that the current world is experiencing accelerated changes unseen in a century, with multiple risks intertwining and overlapping. Only through unity and collaboration can countries maintain world peace and stability, and promote global development and prosperity. Trade wars and tariff wars have no winners, and bullying and hegemony will only isolate oneself. China, along with Latin American and Caribbean countries, are important members of the Global South. Independence and self-reliance are our proud traditions, development and revitalization are our inherent rights, and fairness and justice are our common pursuits. China is willing to join hands with Latin America to launch five major initiatives, jointly seek development and revitalization, and build a China–Latin America community with a shared future.

The first initiative is the Solidarity Initiative. Both sides will continue to support each other on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns. China will firmly defend the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law. They will work together to voice their shared positions in international and regional affairs. Over the next three years, China will invite 300 political party leaders from CELAC member countries each year for visits and exchanges in China.

The second initiative is the Development Initiative. Both sides will jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, firmly uphold the multilateral trade system, maintain the stability and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, and safeguard an open and cooperative international environment. They will strengthen the alignment of development strategies and deepen the promotion of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. China will import more high-quality products from Latin America and encourage Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Latin America.

The third initiative is the Civilization Project. Both sides will jointly implement the Global Civilization Initiative, promoting the values of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness in civilization. They will also advocate for the shared values of humanity, including peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. The two sides will deepen exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Latin American civilizations and hold the China–Latin America Civilization Dialogue Conference.

The fourth initiative is the Peace Project. Both sides will jointly implement the Global Security Initiative, strengthen cooperation in areas such as disaster management, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, anti-drug efforts, and combating transnational organized crime. They will work together to safeguard regional security and stability.

The fifth initiative is the People-to-People Project. Over the next three years, China will provide 3,500 government scholarships, 10,000 training opportunities in China, 500 international Chinese language teacher scholarships, 300 training slots for poverty reduction technical personnel, and 1,000 "Chinese Bridge" program group slots for Latin American and Caribbean countries. China will also implement 300 small but impactful livelihood projects and support the promotion of Chinese language education in CELAC member countries. Additionally, China will implement a visa-free policy for the first batch of five Latin American and Caribbean countries and expand the coverage to other countries in the region at an appropriate time.

President Xi Jinping concluded by emphasizing that, regardless of how international dynamics change, China will always be a good friend and partner to Latin American and Caribbean countries. China will stand shoulder to shoulder with Latin America in their respective journeys of modernization and jointly write a new chapter in building a China–Latin America community with a shared future.

The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum(图5)

The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum(图6)

The rotating chair of the CELAC, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Gabriel Boric of Chile, President Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank and former President of Brazil, each delivered speeches. The special representative of the President of Uruguay, the incoming rotating chair of CELAC, read a congratulatory message. They highly praised the fruitful achievements of the China–CELAC Forum over the past 10 years and commended China's significant contributions to promoting Latin American and Chinese cooperation and the economic and social development of Latin America. All parties reiterated their strong support for the One-China principle. They also expressed that President Xi Jinping's vision of building a community of shared future for humanity and his three global initiatives have opened up a bright prospect of peace, prosperity, and progress for the world. In the face of a world filled with uncertainty, Latin America and China should join hands and work together to promote the continuous progress of the China–Latin America community with a shared future and create a bright future for China–Latin America cooperation. Both sides should adhere to mutual respect, firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and the right to choose their own development paths, strengthen the alignment of Latin American countries' development strategies with the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, new energy, and education, achieving mutual benefits and win-win outcomes. They also aim to promote exchanges and dialogues between civilizations, enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Latin America and China. The parties will firmly defend the authority of the United Nations, uphold world and regional peace and stability, support multilateralism, free trade, and oppose unilateralism, protectionism, hegemonic politics, and bullying behaviors, thus safeguarding the common interests of Global South countries.

On the same day at noon, President Xi Jinping hosted a welcome banquet for the Latin American leaders and heads of delegations attending the meeting.

Cai Qi, Yin Li, and others also attended the above-mentioned events.

Wang Yi presided over the opening ceremony.