China has formally released its third comprehensive policy document outlining strategic engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing mutual cooperation in defending international justice and preserving the historical legacy of World War II victories. Vice Foreign Minister Cai Wei presented the framework on Wednesday, asserting that no external force can reverse the established course of history.
The policy document establishes Taiwan matters as fundamental to China’s core interests, describing them as an absolute boundary that must not be crossed. It reaffirms China’s endorsement of the Latin American and Caribbean region as a Zone of Peace and supports nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The framework advocates for peaceful resolution of international disputes while explicitly rejecting external interference in regional affairs—an indirect reference to perceived U.S. involvement in Venezuela.
This document continues the trajectory established by previous policy papers issued in November 2008 and November 2016, which significantly strengthened Sino-Latin American relations. President Xi Jinping has personally prioritized these ties, having visited the region six times while introducing innovative cooperation concepts and developmental initiatives.
Current economic integration is substantial: 24 regional nations have joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with China standing as the second-largest trading partner for the region overall and the primary partner for nations including Brazil and Peru. As influential Global South actors, China and Latin American countries are collaborating to reform international governance systems and address pressing global challenges such as climate change.
The new policy framework emerges amid unprecedented global transformations and emerging regional conflicts that introduce external uncertainties into China-Latin America relations. It outlines cooperative plans across forty domains including trade, investment, financial cooperation, scientific innovation, and climate response, serving as a strategic roadmap for a new era of partnership.
China commits to supporting regional nations in pursuing independent development paths, emphasizing that these relationships are mutually beneficial, free from geopolitical manipulation, and not targeted against third parties. The document simultaneously rejects coercive diplomatic practices where nations impose their viewpoints pressure regional countries to take sides in international disputes.