China welcomes Latin America to strike hard

China is hosting several Latin American leaders in Beijing on Monday, on the eve of a major diplomatic forum aimed at strengthening its relations with the region amid trade tensions with the United States. The Asian giant has intensified its economic and political cooperation with Latin American countries in recent years and hopes they will join forces with it in the face of US President Donald Trump's current tariff campaign. Two-thirds of Latin American countries have already signed up to the "Belt and Road Initiative," China's major commercial infrastructure construction program (bridges, airports, ports, roads), carried out primarily in developing nations.

A sign of the Asian giant's growing influence in Latin America: in several countries in the region, such as Brazil, Peru, and Chile, China has supplanted the United States as its largest trading partner. This rapprochement will be celebrated Tuesday with the opening in Beijing of the forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), a regional intergovernmental organization. This meeting will provide an opportunity to take the pulse of Sino-Latin American relations, in the context of the trade war launched by Donald Trump and pressure from Washington to counter Beijing's influence in the region.

Latin American leaders are already present in China, such as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a five-day state visit. Since returning to power in early 2023, the 79-year-old leader has worked to improve his country's relations with both Beijing and Washington. A symbol of strong bilateral relations, Brazilian exports to China exceeded $94 billion last year, according to the United Nations Comtrade database. A South American agricultural powerhouse, Brazil primarily exports soybeans and other raw materials to China. In the other direction, the Asian giant sells semiconductors, telephones, vehicles, and medicines, among other things.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with his counterparts, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla of Cuba, Yvan Gil of Venezuela, Elmer Schialer of Peru, and Mario Lubetkin of Uruguay. They held talks at the Diaoyutai, a large complex of official buildings, gardens, and lakes where distinguished guests are received. Other expected participants at the China-CELAC forum include Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric. Last week, Petro announced that he would sign a letter of intent for his country to join the Belt and Road Initiative during his trip to China.

A central plank of Beijing's strategy since 2013 to increase its influence abroad, this program, officially called "The Belt and Road," to which more than a hundred countries have signed up, aims in particular to build maritime, road and rail infrastructure.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled to speak at the opening ceremony of the China-CELAC forum on Tuesday. A senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official, Miao Deyu, said Sunday that Beijing has "always approached the development of Sino-Latin American relations from a strategic and long-term perspective." "The people of Latin America and the Caribbean intend to build their own destiny, not serve as a backyard for any country," he told reporters, in a clear reference to the United States.

In the face of US tariffs, China is "ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Latin American countries" to "work together against unilateralism and economic intimidation," he added.