A Commitment Across the Ocean

—A Snapshot of High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation

Between China and Latin America and the Caribbean

Hua Chunying

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs

of the People’s Republic of China

　　不久前，我赴巴拿马工作访问途中，透过飞机舷窗俯瞰，一艘艘轮船在巴拿马运河上排队过闸、跨越大洋，每年将超过5亿吨货物运往世界各地，生动展示“联通”的含义。这不禁让我联想到500多年前“中国之船”穿梭往来海上丝绸之路的盛况，也让我回想起，2017年11月，巴拿马在同中国建交仅5个月后，便成为拉美和加勒比地区首个加入“一带一路”倡议国家，彰显了“一带一路”倡议巨大的感召力。

　　During my flight to Panama for a working visit not long ago, I looked out the window and saw cargo ships line up by the locks on the Panama Canal to pass between the oceans. Every year, vessels crossing the Canal ship over 500 million tons of cargo around the world, a vivid demonstration of the meaning of “connectivity.” The scene brings to mind the China Ships traversing the maritime Silk Road more than 500 years ago. It also reminds me that Panama became the first Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) country that joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in November 2017, only five months after establishing diplomatic relations with China, which reflects the great appeal of the BRI.

　　2013年习近平主席提出“一带一路”倡议以来，受到国际社会广泛欢迎，拉美和加勒比多国表达强烈参与意愿。习近平主席在同拉方领导人会晤时明确指出，拉美是21世纪海上丝绸之路的自然延伸。2018年1月，在智利举行的中国—拉共体论坛第二届部长级会议发表关于“一带一路”倡议的特别声明，标志着倡议全面延伸至拉美和加勒比。今年6月，随着洪都拉斯的加入，拉美和加勒比“一带一路”共建国增至22个，已成为倡议不可或缺的重要参与方。中拉虽地处太平洋两岸，但高质量共建“一带一路”的约定，如期为双方织牢“发展带”，铺实“幸福路”。

　　President Xi Jinping put forward the BRI in 2013. The initiative has since been widely welcomed by the international community. Many LAC countries have expressed strong desire for participation. When meeting with LAC leaders, President Xi Jinping highlighted that Latin America and the Caribbean are “a natural extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.” In January 2018, the second ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum held in Chile released a special declaration on the BRI, marking the extension of the BRI to Latin America and the Caribbean across the board. With Honduras joining the BRI in June this year, there are now 22 LAC countries, all important and indispensable, participating in the initiative. Despite the geographical distance across the Pacific Ocean, China and Latin America and the Caribbean have translated their shared commitment to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation into a close-knit “belt to development” and a solid “road to happiness” for both sides as envisioned.

　　政策沟通——“（对华合作）能从中国的发展经验中受益”。这是阿根廷、古巴等国专家不约而同作出的评价。今年是中拉开启外交关系63周年，这些年来中方一直同拉方平等相待、互通有无。10年来，习近平主席5次访问拉美和加勒比地区，亲自擘画中拉关系发展，推动“一带一路”合作。习近平主席多次说过，“一带一路”建设不是另起炉灶、推倒重来，而是实现战略对接、优势互补。在习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想和习近平外交思想指引下，中方秉持真实亲诚理念和正确义利观，加强同地区国家团结合作，分享发展经验，做好“共商共建共享”的顶层规划。

　　Policy connectivity—“We benefit from China’s development experience (in our cooperation).” This is the shared assessment by experts from Argentina, Cuba and other countries. This year marks the 63rd anniversary of China’s diplomatic relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. Over the years, China has all along treated LAC countries as equals and maintained close exchanges with them. In the past decade, President Xi Jinping has visited the LAC region five times, personally charting the course for the development of the bilateral relations and Belt and Road cooperation. President Xi Jinping has said on many occasions that the pursuit of the BRI is not meant to reinvent the wheel. Rather, it aims to enhance the synergy among the development strategies of the partner countries and draw on each other’s comparative strengths. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China has followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the right approach to friendship and interests, strengthened solidarity and cooperation with countries in the region, shared its development experience, and made sound top-level plans for jointly taking Belt and Road cooperation forward.

　　今年9月，委内瑞拉总统马杜罗访华期间，亲自考察中国经济特区建设，为制定本国发展战略取经。近年来，“一带一路”倡议先后同智利“2035数字转型战略”、巴拿马“2030年国家物流战略”、乌拉圭“基础设施发展战略规划”、特立尼达和多巴哥多元化发展战略等对接，为有关国家克服发展瓶颈、培育增长动能、实现可持续发展作出积极贡献。

　　During Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s visit to China in September this year, he visited China’s special economic zone to draw experience for devising his country’s development strategy. In recent years, the BRI has formed synergy with Chile’s Digital 2035 strategy, Panama’s National Logistics Strategy for 2030, Uruguay’s National Infrastructure Plan, Trinidad and Tobago’s diversification development strategy, among others, contributing positively to the countries’ efforts to overcome development bottlenecks, foster growth drivers and achieve sustainable development.

　　设施联通——“中国做了一些国家几百年都没做的事”。这是牙买加裔英国说唱歌手阿卡拉对中拉基础设施合作的评价。基础设施是互联互通的基石，也是拉美和加勒比发展面临的瓶颈。据不完全统计，截至2023年9月，中国在地区累计实施200余项基建项目，承建了几千公里道路、铁路、轻轨，100多个学校、医院、体育场馆，近百个桥梁、隧道，数十个机场、港口，30多个电站电厂等电力设施，为当地提供近百万个就业岗位。同时，随着数字基建、绿色基建、新基建合作亮点不断，拉美和加勒比国家自主发展能力得到提升，正以更好的基建条件融入全球供应链、产业链、价值链。

　　Infrastructure connectivity—“The Chinese are doing what some other country chose not to do in several hundred years.” This is the comment of Jamaican British rapper Akala on the infrastructure cooperation between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. Infrastructure is the cornerstone of connectivity, yet it is also a bottleneck the LAC region faces in its development. Preliminary figures show that by September 2023, China had implemented more than 200 infrastructure projects in the region, including building several thousand kilometers of road, railway and light rail, more than 100 schools, hospitals and stadiums, some 100 bridges and tunnels, dozens of airports and ports, and more than 30 power stations, plants and other power facilities, creating nearly one million local jobs. In this process, with one highlight after another in digital, green and new infrastructure cooperation, LAC countries’ own capacity for development is growing. With more favorable infrastructure development conditions, these countries are better positioned to integrate into the global supply, industrial and value chains.

　　我们高兴地看到，震后重建的厄瓜多尔曼塔国际机场成为该国与世界联通的重要通道；安提瓜和巴布达圣约翰深水港改扩建后，将助力该国成为地区航运中心；特立尼达和多巴哥凤凰工业园建成后，将成为加勒比地区自动化智能化水平最高的物流平台；“世界最南端”水电站——基塞水电站建成后，阿根廷不仅能节省高额油气进口开支，还能出口电力；牙买加南北高速路被称为“通向发展富强的未来之路”；智利5号公路塔奇段被智利人民誉为中国朋友为其修建的一条“致富路”。

　　We are happy to see that the Eloy Alfaro International Airport in Ecuador, rebuilt after earthquake, has become an important channel connecting the country and the world; the redeveloped St. John’s Harbor in Antigua and Barbuda will help the country become a regional shipping hub; the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate in Trinidad and Tobago, upon completion, will become the most intelligent and automated logistics platform in the Caribbean region; The Nestor Kirchner-Jorge Cepernic Hydroelectric Power Plant in Argentina, the world’s southernmost hydropower station, will, when completed, save the country a huge amount of spending on oil and gas import, and make Argentina a power exporter; the Jamaica North-South Highway is hailed as a runway to “a brighter, more prosperous future for Jamaica”; the Talca-Chillán section of Route 5 in Chile is acclaimed by the Chilean people as a road to prosperity built by their Chinese friends.

　　贸易畅通——最远的国家成为最大的水果进口来源国之一。得益于自贸红利，中国第二大鲜果进口来源国竟是距离最远的智利。令人惊喜的统计不止这一项。10年来，中拉货物贸易额由2013年的2616亿美元增长至2022年的4858亿美元，近乎翻番。中国稳居拉方第二大贸易伙伴国以及巴西、智利、秘鲁、乌拉圭等国第一大贸易伙伴国。即使在新冠疫情期间，中拉贸易亦保持增长势头，展现出高度的互补性及韧性。我高兴地看到，今年9月，中国核电设施首次使用阿根廷核燃料公司生产的屏蔽塞，这是拉方对华出口多元化的又一例证。同时，中拉服务贸易亮点纷呈。在不久前举行的2023年服贸会上，拉美和加勒比国家组团设展，古巴、墨西哥、秘鲁、阿根廷等国特色线路成为“爆款”，体育培训、知识经济、文娱等领域对华合作不断拓展。

　　Trade connectivity—One of the farthest countries has become one of China’s biggest sources of fruit imports. Thanks to the benefit of free trade, Chile, one of the countries farthest away from China, has become the country’s second largest source of fresh fruits. But that is not the only pleasant surprise. Over the past 10 years, trade in goods between China and LAC countries nearly doubled, up from USD 261.6 billion in 2013 to USD 485.8 billion in 2022. China stayed the second largest trading partner of LAC and the top trading partner of Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, among others. Even during COVID-19, China-LAC trade kept growing, a sign of strong complementarity and resilience. I am delighted to see shielding plugs made by Combustibles Nucleares Argentinos (Conuar) be used in Chinese nuclear power plants for the first time in September. This is another example of the diversification in LAC’s exports to China. Meanwhile, trade in services between the two sides registered many highlights. At the China International Fair for Trade in Services that just took place this year, LAC countries sent a cohort of exhibitors to the event. Special tour packages featuring Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Argentina and other countries were a big hit, and LAC’s cooperation with China in such areas as sports training, knowledge economy, culture and entertainment continued to expand.

　　需要指出的是，中拉贸易的节节攀升，相当程度上归功于中拉自贸合作的捷报频传。今年，中国与厄瓜多尔、尼加拉瓜签署自贸协定，加上智利、秘鲁和哥斯达黎加，在地区已经有5个自贸伙伴。中国还同洪都拉斯启动并举行第二轮自贸协定谈判，与秘鲁举行自贸协定升级第五轮谈判……中国开放的大门只会越开越大，中拉贸易成果也将更加丰硕。

　　It is worth noting that the surge in China-LAC trade is due in large measure to the conclusion of successive free trade arrangements between the two sides. In 2023, China signed FTA agreements with Ecuador and Nicaragua; this brings the number of China’s free trade partners in the region to five on top of Chile, Peru and Costa Rica. What’s more, China and Honduras have launched and held the second round of FTA negotiations, and China and Peru have held the fifth round of negotiations on their FTA upgrade. Going forward, China’s door will only open wider, and China-LAC trade will yield more fruits.

　　资金融通——“特别感谢中国政府的帮助”。今年7月，中国为阿根廷提供人民币“过桥”资金，避免该国再次陷入债务违约，该国经济部长马萨公开向中方致谢。习近平主席说过，金融是现代经济的血液。血脉通，增长才有力。近年来，中方一直努力为拉方经济社会发展提供资金支持。中国是拉美和加勒比第三大投资来源地。截至2021年底，中国对拉直接投资存量近7000亿美元。中拉合作基金、中拉产能合作投资基金、中拉开发性金融合作机制成立，中拉融资机制不断完善，渠道更为多元。中国对拉投融资不附带任何政治条件，以促进发展为目的，带来的不是“债务陷阱”，而是“发展动能”。

　　Financial connectivity—“I would obviously like to thank the Chinese government.” This was the public expression of gratitude from Argentine Minister of Economy Sergio Massa when China provided bridge financing in RMB in July to help his country avert another debt default. As President Xi Jinping noted, “Finance is the lifeblood of modern economy.” Only when blood keeps pumping in, can growth be robust. In recent years, China has been doing its best to provide financing support for the economic and social development in LAC countries. China now stands as the region’s third biggest source of foreign investment. As of the end of 2021, the stock of Chinese FDI in the LAC countries approached USD 700 billion. With the establishment of the China-LAC Cooperation Fund, China-LAC Industrial Cooperation Investment Fund and China-LAC Development Financial Institutions Association, financing mechanisms between the two sides have become more full-fledged and financing channels more diversified. China’s investment and financing in LAC have no political strings attached, but aim to facilitate local development; they will not bring any debt trap, but impetus for development.

　　近年来，智利、巴西、阿根廷设立人民币清算银行，阿根廷、玻利维亚等国宣布外贸中使用人民币结算。2022年底，人民币超过欧元成为巴西第二大国际储备货币。地区多国专家指出，使用人民币结算有利于节约汇率成本、降低金融制裁风险、提升贸易效率与安全，为“全球南方”国家提升金融多样化和货币政策独立性提供了新的选择。

　　In recent years, RMB clearing banks have been set up in Chile, Brazil and Argentina, and countries such as Argentina and Bolivia announced the use of RMB for trade settlement. Late last year, RMB overtook euro to become Brazil’s second largest reserve currency. Experts from a number of regional countries pointed out that settlement in RMB helps reduce costs from currency exchange, lower exposure to financial sanctions and improve trade efficiency and security, thus offering a new alternative to countries of the Global South to enhance financial diversification and independence of their monetary policies.

　　民心相通——“项目建在哪里就要在哪里树起友谊的丰碑”。这是习近平主席对中拉合作提出的希望，为双方人民带来看得见、摸得着的获得感和幸福感。近年来，拉美“中国热”和中国“拉美热”同步升温。“中拉文化交流年”“中拉文明对话论坛”“拉美文化节”“拉美文化交流周”“拉美电影展”“中拉情缘”等文化活动以及中拉电影电视、音乐舞蹈等不断走近双方普通百姓，旅游、留学丰富中拉民众生活，中拉友好广泛惠及双方人民。我还高兴得知，中国春节已成为一些拉美和加勒比国家的全国性节日。目前，中国已有逾120所院校开设西班牙语专业，近40所院校开设葡萄牙语专业，近60家学术机构和高校设立拉美和加勒比地区或国别研究中心，在地区25国建有47所孔子学院和5个孔子课堂。

　　People-to-people connectivity—“Wherever a project is built, it should serve as a monument of friendship between us.” This is President Xi Jinping’s hope for China-LAC cooperation that it can bring concrete, tangible benefits and real gains to the people on both sides. In recent years, there is a growing interest about China among LAC countries and about LAC in China. Cultural events such as the China-LAC Year of Culture Exchange, Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and Latin America and the Caribbean, LAC-themed cultural festivals, culture exchange weeks, movie shows as well as Chinese and LAC TV series, music and dance are increasingly becoming part of our everyday life, and travel and studying in each other’s countries have enriched our life experience. Indeed, China-LAC friendship has benefited our people in so many ways. I am glad to learn that the Chinese Spring Festival has become a national holiday in several LAC countries. Today, more than 120 universities in China offer degrees of the Spanish language and nearly 40 of the Portuguese language; close to 60 academic institutions and colleges have centers dedicated to the LAC region or country-specific studies. Moreover, China has opened 47 Confucius Institutes and five Confucius Classrooms in 25 LAC countries.

　　大家好才是真的好。今年7月访问多米尼克时，我专门走访了中国援多农业专家组。组长孙浩杰带着妻女扎根当地18年，同团队成员一道为多米尼克农业现代化做出突出贡献，让中多友谊的种子在当地民众心里开花结果，被多米尼克政府授予“杰出成就奖”。我还出席了中国—多米尼克友谊医院心血管影像学中心揭牌仪式，这是中多医疗卫生领域合作的又一里程碑事件，多米尼克总理斯凯里特携所有内阁成员及执政党议员出席仪式，并真诚感谢中国人民的深情厚谊。中国不仅“授人以鱼”，更是“授人以渔”，截至目前，中国已经向圭亚那、多米尼克、巴巴多斯等国派出近30批医疗队，创造了当地医疗史上数不清的“第一”，也为当地医疗事业发展培养了大批人才。

　　Cooperation is truly beneficial when it delivers for everyone. During my trip to Dominica last July, I took time to visit the Chinese Agricultural Mission there. Mr. Sun Haojie, head of the Chinese expert team, has brought his family with him and worked in the country for 18 years. Together with his teammates, they made remarkable contributions to agricultural modernization in Dominica, and literally sowed the seeds of China-Dominica friendship in the hearts of the local people. Their dedication was recognized in the “Outstanding Achievement Award” granted by the Dominican government to the Mission. During my trip, I also had the opportunity to attend the launching ceremony of the Cardiovascular Imaging Center at the China-Dominica Friendship Hospital, another milestone in the bilateral healthcare cooperation. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit led all his cabinet members and MPs from the ruling party to the ceremony, and expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese people for the deep friendship. Apart from just giving people fish, China helps people learn how to fish. To date, China has sent nearly 30 batches of medical teams to Guyana, Dominica, and Barbados, among other countries. These medical teams have created many “firsts” in local medical practices and helped train a large number of local professionals for healthcare services.

　　新冠疫情发生后，中国医生先后驰援委内瑞拉和秘鲁。在一些西方发达国家自私囤积疫苗和防疫物资时，中国尽己所能，累计向地区30国捐赠医疗物资设备近4000万件，向22国提供4亿剂疫苗。在美西方大肆污蔑抹黑中国时，我们也得到了拉美和加勒比多国政府和民众向中国人民捐赠医疗防疫物资，多国领导人为中国仗义执言。事实一再证明，中拉是值得信赖的真朋友，构建中拉命运共同体有着深厚的情感基础和广泛的实践支撑。

　　When COVID-19 struck, China sent its doctors to Venezuela and Peru. While some Western developed countries hoarded vaccines and anti-pandemic supplies for themselves, China made its best effort to donate nearly 40 million items of medical supplies and equipment to 30 LAC countries, and provided 400 million doses of vaccines to 22 countries in the region. In return, when the U.S.-led West engaged in relentless smearing of China, many leaders from the region spoke up for China, and the governments and people of many LAC countries donated medical supplies to the Chinese people. These and many other facts have shown time and again that China and LAC are truly trustworthy friends. Our vision to build a China-LAC community with a shared future enjoys strong public support and is built on a solid track record of concrete practices.

　　不久以后，拉美和加勒比多国代表将出席在北京举行的第三届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛，用实际行动为中拉高质量共建“一带一路”成果投下满意票和信任票。我们欢迎更多拉美和加勒比国家加入“一带一路”朋友圈，相信中拉高质量共建“一带一路”将取得更加丰硕的成果，更好惠及双方人民。

　　In a few days time, representatives from many LAC countries will come to Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. This is a vote of satisfaction about and confidence in China-LAC high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We look forward to having more LAC countries joining the Belt and Road family, and we are confident that our high-quality Belt and Road cooperation will bear more fruits and deliver more benefits for people on both sides.

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15 OCT 2023