Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says his country is “prepared to deepen its cooperation” with Latin America and the Caribbean “in order to mutually learn from each other and forge together a new path for the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Comprehensive Cooperation Association.”
In a keynote lecture here at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Li Keqiang said China is “prepared to join forces with Latin American and Caribbean countries to contribute in a small but meaningful way to the construction of our happy home and to work together for a more beautiful world.”
Li Keqiang said that the promotion of cooperation between China and the region, in terms of productive capacity, “will boost development in such a way that everyone wins,” according to ECLAC.
He proposed that both parties explore a new “3 x 3 cooperation model,” focused on the joint construction of the three major pathways of logistics, energy and information technology; the virtuous interaction between companies, society and government; and the broadening of three financing channels – funds, credits and insurance.
Li Keqiang urged China and the region to “intensify even more their international collaboration and strengthen their coordination to speak with a common voice on transcendent issues, such as the reform of the international financial structure, the negotiations for a new agreement on carbon emissions, the development of the post-2015 Development Agenda, as well as cyber security.”
In addition, the Chinese Premier reiterated the country’s commitment to keep boosting cultural exchanges between the two sides, as well as broaden cooperation to “maximize the results of the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum.”
According to ECLAC’s figures, between 2000 and 2014, bilateral trade between Latin America and the Caribbean and China expanded 22 times over.
China is now the second biggest trading partner of the region and the first of Chile and Brazil.
Source-CMC
