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By Huan Xiang
On May 13, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum and delivered a keynote address.
He reviewed the development of the relations between China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, and elaborated on the profound significance, practical achievements, and promising prospects of the China-LAC community with a shared future.
He said China stands ready to join hands with its LAC partners to launch five programs that advance shared development and revitalization, and contribute to a China-LAC community with a shared future.
His remarks have drawn a blueprint for deeper China-LAC cooperation, and injected positive energy into the unity, self-improvement, and common development of Global South.
The China-CELAC Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree over the past 10 years, bearing abundant fruits.
In 2015, Xi, together with LAC delegates, attended the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, which marked the launch of the China-CELAC Forum.
Over the past ten years, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy and through joint efforts of both sides, China and LAC countries have upheld the principle of equality, and sought mutual benefit and "win-win" results with flexible and pragmatic ways of collaboration and in a spirit of openness and inclusiveness.
Together, they have promoted complementary development of collective and bilateral cooperation, leading the China-LAC relations to a new stage that features equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and benefits for the people, and enriching the significance of the China-LAC community with a shared future.
Participants from the LAC side at this year's forum highly praised the fruitful achievements of the past decade and commended China for its significant contributions to promoting LAC–China cooperation and advancing the region's economic and social development.
Since the turn of the century and in particular in recent years, China and LAC countries have ushered in a historic era of building a shared future.
China appreciates the long-standing commitment of LAC countries that have diplomatic ties with China to the one-China principle. China firmly supports LAC countries in pursuing development paths suited to their national conditions, safeguarding sovereignty and independence, and opposing external interference.
Embracing the trend of economic globalization, China and LAC countries have deepened cooperation in trade, investment, finance, science and technology, infrastructure, and many other fields.
China and LAC countries have collaborated on disaster prevention, mitigation and relief and on joint response to hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. When the pandemic of the century struck, China was among the first to offer assistance to LAC countries.
Together, the two sides champion true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, advance global governance reform, and promote multipolarization of the world and greater democracy in international relations.
China and LAC countries are advancing hand in hand as a community with a shared future. This community is founded upon equality, powered by mutual benefit and win-win, invigorated by openness and inclusiveness, and dedicated to the people's well-being. It exhibits enduring vitality and holds immense promise.
The century-defining transformation is accelerating across the globe, with multiple risks compounding one another. Such developments make unity and cooperation among nations indispensable for safeguarding global peace and stability and for promoting global development and prosperity.
Xi said that China and LAC countries are important members of the Global South. Independence and autonomy are our glorious tradition. Development and revitalization are our inherent right. And fairness and justice are our common pursuit.
In the face of seething undercurrents of geopolitical and bloc confrontation and the surging tide of unilateralism and protectionism, China stands ready to join hands with its LAC partners to launch five programs including the Solidarity Program, Development Program, Civilization Program, Peace Program and People-to-People Connectivity Program, and implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Civilizations Initiative and Global Security Initiative.
China will invite 300 members from political parties of CELAC member states every year to visit China, provide a RMB66 billion yuan credit line to support LAC countries' development, hold a conference on China-LAC inter-civilizational dialogue, organize law enforcement training programs tailored to the needs of CELAC member states, and provide CELAC member states with 3,500 government scholarships.
These tangible measures will inject fresh momentum into the steady and sustained growth of China-LAC relations and chart a clear course for building a China-LAC community with a shared future.
Representatives from LAC countries attending the forum said that Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and his three major global Initiatives offer a bright path toward peace, prosperity, and progress for the world.
They believe that in an uncertain world, LAC countries and China should work hand in hand, support each other through challenges, and steadily advance the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future, so as to create a brighter future for their cooperation.
As an 11th-century Chinese poet wrote, "Life's greatest joy comes from finding kindred spirits." Latin America has a similar proverb which goes, "The one who has a friend has a treasure." Though oceans apart, China and LAC countries cherish their friendship.
No matter how the world changes, China will always stand by LAC countries as a good friend and a good partner. China and LAC countries will march forward together on the paths toward modernization, working together to write a new chapter in building a China-LAC community with a shared future.
(The author is commenter on international affairs, People's Daily)