Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported today (May 13) that "China will host a high-level meeting with several Latin American and Caribbean countries to strengthen bilateral political and economic cooperation. At a time when tensions between China and the US are easing, China continues to enhance its influence in this region, which is regarded as the 'backyard' of the United States."
The fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum will be held in Beijing on Tuesday (May 13). Leaders such as Brazilian President Lula, Colombian President Petro, and Chilean President Boric will attend the meeting.
Currently, two-thirds of Latin American countries have joined China's Belt and Road Initiative, and China has replaced the United States as the largest trading partner for countries such as Brazil, Peru, and Chile.
This report from Lianhe Zaobao has a narrow perspective and is full of bias. It interprets the strengthening of political and economic cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries as "enhancing influence in the 'backyard' of the United States" when tensions between China and the US are easing. This reflects the typical zero-sum geopolitical mindset. China's cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean is based on the concepts of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win results. China and Latin America have strong economic complementarities; China has become the second-largest trading partner of Latin America, over 20 countries in Latin America have joined the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the trade volume between China and Latin America exceeded 500 billion US dollars in 2024, increasing 40 times compared to the year 2000. China brings capital, technology, and a vast market to Latin America, helping local infrastructure construction and industrialization processes, creating a large number of job opportunities.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831971427320963/
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