Latin American FMs visits strengthen mutually beneficial ties

Editor's note: Hannan Hussain, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a foreign affairs commentator and author. He is a Fulbright recipient at the University of Maryland, the U.S., and a former assistant researcher at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and Beijing's relations with Latin American states continue to demonstrate positive momentum.

In the latest signs, the foreign ministers of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru recently concluded their high-level visits to China, paving the way for stronger trade and development cooperation. In-depth diplomatic exchanges also reflect a concerted effort to advance a China-Latin America Community with a shared future. "China is ready to continue working with Argentina, understand and support each other, be fellow partners in development, continuously enhance political mutual trust, push for steady and long-term practical cooperation, and deliver benefits to the two peoples," Chinese Vice President Han Zheng told Argentinian Foreign Minister Diana Mondino.

All three countries hold significant value in China's foreign policy towards the region. Ties with Peru have undergone seamless advancement over the years, and both partners are on course to upgrade their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at an early date. The visit from Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea Franco invites more optimism for those FTA negotiations. It is also an important step towards scaling bilateral engagement across infrastructure construction, digital economy, health and green development sectors.

Understand that consistent coordination and deep political trust reaped enormous benefits for China and Peru's comprehensive strategic partnership. This includes a steady increase in trade over the past decade and billions in win-win investments across Lima's power and transportation sectors, as well as its deep water mega-port, a project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The latter promises to position Lima as a melting pot for trade connectivity between South America and Asia, a living testament to steer their partnership "to a new level."

Interestingly, the high-level visits also underscore the substantial potential to align regional development strategies with the BRI. Hundreds of millions of people across Latin America have been effectively utilizing BRI-backed ports, airports, highways, subways, and internet connectivity networks to their benefit. These tangible advantages provide robust incentives to advance even closer BRI cooperation ahead of the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum.

To the benefit of China-Bolivia ties, sentiment on win-win BRI engagement was amply evident in talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Bolivian counterpart Celinda Sosa Lunda. Bolivia's determination to secure greater Chinese investment is also an important step towards aiding the country's own industrialization. Self-sufficient development has served as a key priority for Beijing through BRI-backed development projects in Bolivia. China's vast market and investments can also help Bolivia capitalize on its crucial metal reserves and support industrialization through "green development."

In many ways, China's relationship with Argentina is a model of stability for China-Latin America cooperation. Consider expanding engagement over the past decade: Argentina has committed to deepening cooperation with China across the economy, trade and infrastructure, while actively promoting growth in LAC-China relations. It has also joined China in championing engagement with CELAC across administrations. Beijing considers Argentina as an important emerging market, and continues to back its national development through foreign exchange reserve support.

Mondino's visit provides new incentives to strengthen their time-tested relationship ahead of the 10th anniversary of comprehensive strategic ties. For instance, optimism runs high to strengthen market access by encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in Argentina. Under President Javier Milei, developing relations in accordance with "the expectations of the two peoples" can also reinforce stability long-term.

As one of Argentina's top trading partners, Beijing brings important advantages to propel the country's progress in key sectors. This includes the new energy space, where China's sizeable investments in electric-vehicle battery metals are bolstering innovation in Argentina and informing green transition for LACs. "[Argentina] hopes to continuously consolidate and expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation with China, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and develop in Argentina," Mondino told Vice President Han Zheng on April 29.

Thus understood, the successful visits of top diplomats from Peru, Bolivia and Argentina helped deepen mutual political trust at the bilateral level. In-depth exchanges also set apace expanding economic cooperation in a crucial year for China-Latin America ties.

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