{"id":149613,"date":"2025-05-05T10:09:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T15:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rmtsolutions.net\/sela\/?post_type=agenda&p=149613"},"modified":"2025-06-10T22:41:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T03:41:25","slug":"ii-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-china-development-forum-mutual-learning-in-modernization-and-high-quality-cooperation","status":"publish","type":"agenda","link":"https:\/\/rmtsolutions.net\/sela\/en\/agenda\/ii-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-china-development-forum-mutual-learning-in-modernization-and-high-quality-cooperation\/","title":{"rendered":"II Latin America and the Caribbean-China Development Forum: Mutual learning in modernization and high-quality cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \n Introduction <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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SELA has played a key role in promoting regional integration and development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Through its work in areas such as economic growth, digital and infrastructure transformation, and social development, it has contributed to strengthening the capacities of its Member States. Based on these achievements, SELA is increasingly called upon to expand its scope by building strategic partnerships beyond the region. In this regard, China stands out as a decisive partner, not only because of its economic weight at the global level, but also because it has become one of the main trading partners of LAC countries, including Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina. This growing trade relationship highlights the need to strengthen cooperation frameworks to take advantage of mutual opportunities in trade, investment, infrastructure and sustainable development.<\/p>\n

With this purpose in mind, SELA organized the first \u201cLatin America and the Caribbean-China Development Forum\u201d in 2024, in Beijing, China, with the goal of building a strategic partnership based on mutual cooperation and sustainable development. This event provided an inclusive and dynamic platform for political, commercial, and academic stakeholders from both regions, where they discussed critical areas for collaboration, shared challenges, and emerging opportunities in bilateral economic relations.<\/p>\n

As a result of this forum, SELA published \u201cThe Relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and China: Notes for a Development Agenda,\u201d which offers a current diagnosis of the relations between China and LAC, and a complementary document summarizing the perspectives and concerns of regional integration organisations, national stakeholders, and economic institutions that participated in the forum.<\/p>\n

Within the efforts to promote more and better integration, SELA aims to advance more lines of action to develop a joint work agenda between China and ALC. In this context, building upon the momentum of the first edition, SELA, in partnership with the Andean Community (CAN), and Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), will host this second edition, marking a step forward in fostering deeper engagement and a more unified regional voice.<\/p>\n

The Andean Community\u2019s involvement adds strategic depth to this effort. As part of a subregional integration bloc, CAN countries have been among the beneficiaries of Chinese investments in infrastructure, energy, and transport. For instance, Peru hosts the Chancay Port Project, which is expected to become China’s major logistics hub on the South Pacific coast. Ecuador has received investments between 2010 and 2022, particularly in hydroelectric power and mining. In Colombia, more than 40 Chinese companies are active in infrastructure, renewable energy, and transport, including a major participation in the Bogot\u00e1 Metro. And Bolivia has received investments in transport and energy, as part of a broader trend of Chinese engagement in the Andean region.<\/p>\n

Through this joint effort, the II Forum aims not only to consolidate the ties between LAC and China, but also to motivate a greater commitment of the Asian country with the region by hosting future meetings in LAC territory. The overall vision is to establish a permanent LAC\u2013China Development Forum, which will serve as an institutionalised space for policy coordination, dialogue, needs assessment, and shared goal setting, with the aim of promoting synergies and strengthening regional integration within the evolving global economic architecture.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \n Development of proposal <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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Focus Area:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Latin America and the Caribbean-China Development Forum will focus on the following key<\/p>\n

areas:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exchange and assessment of modernisation experiences: exchange of national development strategies and policy innovation to better understand each region\u2019s modernisation pathways.<\/p>\n

Trade and investment: identification of trade opportunities, investment partnerships, and market access for goods and services, promoting economic diversification and mutual growth.<\/p>\n

Investment cooperation in traditional and emerging industries: promotion of joint initiatives in both established sectors and emerging industries, fostering innovation and sustainable development.<\/p>\n

Global governance cooperation: strengthening collaboration and addressing global challenges such as digital governance.<\/p>\n

Services sector: promoting and strengthening cooperation in key services industries such as logistics and tourism to support inclusive growth and enhance integration between LAC and China.<\/p>\n

Benefits:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Latin American and Caribbean countries can access the vast Chinese market, while China can invest in and benefit from the resources and markets of our region. This Latin America and the Caribbean-China Development Forum offers numerous advantages to both China and the participating Latin American and Caribbean nations, including:<\/p>\n