Keynote Speech at the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit

Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China

Brasilia, Brazil

July 17, 2014

Glad to see you, one and all! It's a pleasure to be here with you to discuss the future development of relations between China and the Latin American and Caribbean states. First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for the passionate speech given by President Dilma Rousseff. I feel pleased to meet with so many new and old friends from Latin American and Caribbean states. This afternoon is reserved for all the people from our collected nations. The meeting, attended by so many Chinese and Latin American and Caribbean leaders, itself is a significant historical event for the world.

Here, please allow me to extend my regards and sincere wishes to both the guests present here and the Latin American and Caribbean people in my own name and on behalf of the Chinese Government and its people.

Since taking office as Chinese President almost one year ago, this is the second time I have visited my friends in Latin American and Caribbean states and my first time attending the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit. It has been initiated to strengthen bilateral dialogue, build consensus and promote Chinese-Latin American relations to an unprecedented high level, which is in line with the practical and long-term interests of both sides and will contribute to South-South cooperation.

I want to extend my gratitude to President Rousseff and the Brazilian Government for their efforts in the preparations of the important meeting while also hosting the 2014 World Cup and the Sixth BRICS Summit. The coordinated efforts made by the CELAC Quartet and the extensive participation of related parties has shown great support to the strengthening of China-Latin American relations and pushing forward all-round partnerships. I appreciate it very much.

As the proverb goes, nothing can separate people with common goals and ideals, not even mountains and seas. Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, with the endeavors of several generations, China-Latin America relations have taken a propitious route over the last six decades. Entering the new century, bilateral relations have gained momentum for high-speed comprehensive development. Following the spread of the 2008 global financial crisis, both China and Latin America have done much to ride out the storm by profiting from their own advantages and working towards the continued development of the longstanding relationship.

Now, China-Latin America relations are in their prime, at a new starting point in history, and have the opportunity, foundation and environment necessary to deepen mutual benefits and cooperation.

Here, I propose the establishment of an all-round partnership for equality, mutual benefits and common development between China and Latin America, and the molding of a pattern that promotes mutual political trust, economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchanges, collaborative ties in tackling international affairs and the mutual promotion of overall development and bilateral relations. To these ends, I have five objectives, as follow.

First, we adhere to equal treatment and always help each other sincerely. The path a country takes decides its destiny. China and Latin American and Caribbean states should firmly support each other in taking the development path that conforms to its own national conditions, strengthen the exchanges of the experience on governance and administration of state affairs, deepen strategic mutual trust and continuously understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China supports Latin American countries in promoting regional integrity and playing a greater role in regional and international affairs.

Second, we should adhere to mutually beneficial cooperation and promote common development. There is a strong complementarity in the economies and development strategies of the two sides, making it easier to strengthen cooperative ties. China calls for all concerned parties to build a "1+3+6" cooperation framework to promote faster, broader and deeper cooperation between the two sides for real results.

In this equation, "1" means one plan, referring to the Chinese-Latin American and Caribbean Cooperation Plan (2015-19), with the aim of achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The "3" stands for three engines, namely trade, investment and financial cooperation, which should propel the practical cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean states so as to increase comprehensive development. Bilateral trade should be promoted to spur economic growth, the exports of Latin America's traditionally predominant products and high value-added products should be facilitated, and cooperation should be expanded in the service trades and e-commerce, increasing the trade volume between China and Latin American and Caribbean states to $500 billion.

The two sides should accelerate mutual investment, propel the diversification of these investments, and shepherd in more funds to productive industries. The Chinese Government encourages more Chinese enterprises to make investments and seek advancement in Latin American and Caribbean states and strives to boost the investment stock to Latin America to $250 billion within 10 years.

The two sides should strengthen financial cooperation by intensifying coordination and cooperation between central banks, facilitating the conversion and settlement of domestic currencies in bilateral trade activities, and encouraging banks to open branches in partner countries.

The last part of the equation "6" refers to six fields. Cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean nations should focus on these sectors---energy and resources, infrastructure building, agriculture, manufacturing, scientific and technological innovation, and information technologies.

To facilitate cooperation in these areas, I am announcing that China will formally implement the $10-billion special loans for Chinese-Latin American infrastructure and will, on this basis, further raise the credit limit for special loans to $20 billion. In addition, China will also provide $10 billion of concessional loans for Latin American and Caribbean states, comprehensively launch the China-Latin America Cooperation Fund with a commitment to invest 5 billion, and promise to invest $5 billion in promoting cooperation in fields such as energy, agriculture, manufacturing, innovative and high technology, and sustainable development. Moreover, China will also formally put in place a $50-million special fund for China-Latin America agricultural cooperation, establish the China-Latin America Scientific and Technological Partnership Program and the China-Latin America Young Scientists Exchange Program, and hold the first China-Latin America Scientific and Technological Innovation Forum in due time.

Third, we should adhere to communication and mutual learning and consolidate the ever-lasting friendship. Amity between people holds the key to sound relations between states. China is willing to strengthen contacts between the governments, legislative bodies, political parties and regions of the two sides; intensify bilateral exchanges in education, culture, sports, press and tourism; and conduct bilateral dialogues, helping people in both China and Latin America and Caribbean states better understand one another. In this way, public opinion founded on these long-term bilateral relations will be strengthened.

I'm also pleased to announce that in the following five years, China will provide 6,000 government scholarships, 6,000 training offers and 400 positions of in-house studying for master's degree to Latin American and Caribbean nations. China will also invite 1,000 party leaders from Latin American and Caribbean countries to visit China and launch the "Future Bridge" Training Program for 1,000 Chinese and Latin American Youth Leaders in 2015. China proposes to hold China-Latin America Cultural Exchange Year in 2016.

Fourth, we should adhere to international cooperation and safeguard common rights and interests. Coordination and cooperation between the two sides is of great significance to the democratization of international relations and the equity and rationality of international order.

China is willing to work with Latin America to strengthen communication and cooperation with regard to various global issues and hotspot issues such as global governance, sustainable development, coping with climate change and network security, and enhance dialogues and cooperation on Asia-Pacific and Latin American affairs within the frameworks of international organizations and multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Group of 20 and the Group of 77. China is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with its Latin American and Caribbean friends in tackling issues and problems arising from the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, and make positive contributions to the peace and prosperity of the two sides.

Fifth, we should adhere to overall cooperation and boost bilateral relations. Overall cooperation has long been the common aspiration of the two sides. In January, the Second Summit of the CELAC passed a special announcement supporting the establishment of a China-CELAC Forum, laying a solid foundation for the setting up of the forum and promoting overall cooperation. During this forum, we will formally announce its establishment and try to convene its inaugural ministerial meeting in Beijing at an early date. The move will have a far-reaching influence on the development of China-Latin America-Caribbean relations and send a signal of strengthened solidarity, partnership and South-South cooperation.

China is willing to make use of this platform with Latin America to carry out collective dialogues, innovate cooperation methods, tap into potential areas of collaboration, expand the scope of cooperative activities and improve the quality of cooperation in fields like political affairs, trade, culture, society and diplomacy, complementing each other's advantages and propelling common development.

Within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum, China is willing to conduct dialogues and work with regional and sub-regional organizations in Latin American and Caribbean states, properly build the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum and form a comprehensive and balanced China-Latin American network of overall cooperation.

Currently the Chinese people are striving to achieve the "Chinese Dream" of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, while the peoples of Latin American and Caribbean countries are also struggling for the "Latin American Dream" of realizing solidarity, cooperation, development and revitalization. The common dreams and shared pursuit closely connect China and Latin America. Let's seize the opportunity, forge ahead and try hard to build a hand-in-hand community of common destiny, so as to create a splendid future for China-Latin America relations.