BEIJING, May 21, 2025 — According to a report from China.org.cn, China and Latin American and Caribbean nations are strengthening their cooperative ties.

Paolo Martínez, a young engineer from Colombia, might not have expected his dream of building a subway in Bogotá to materialize so quickly. He likely didn’t foresee traveling to China to learn subway operation before ever riding one in his hometown.

Bogotá, situated among three mountain ranges, is known for its heavy traffic congestion. In some areas, cars move slower than pedestrians, making two-to-three-hour commutes a common occurrence. For decades, Bogotá residents have desired a more efficient subway system.

In 2019, a Chinese consortium secured the contract for the Bogotá Metro Line 1 project. The Chinese team collaborated with local teams to create a construction plan that prioritizes safety and efficiency, while also addressing the needs of local communities and respecting cultural heritage. Recognizing the importance of local expertise for sustainable operations, two groups of young Colombian professionals were selected for training in China. Paolo Martínez, mentioned earlier, was among them.

Currently, the metro project is over halfway finished, and the line is scheduled to begin operations in 2028, benefiting approximately three million residents and opening up new opportunities for Bogotá’s future growth.

In May, the relationship between China and Colombia was further strengthened. Following the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, the two governments signed a cooperation plan to jointly advance the Belt and Road Initiative. They also signed agreements to encourage policy discussions and the sharing of experiences in macroeconomics, BRI cooperation, trade, and investment.

In recent years, China and Latin American and Caribbean countries have shown solidarity and offered mutual support, which has continuously deepened political trust. Driven by mutual benefit and win-win strategies, both sides have dedicated themselves to promoting stable and long-term cooperation. The relationship between China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries has entered a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and a focus on people.

In Peru, the Chancay Port, a key BRI project between China and Peru, stands as Latin America’s first world-class deep-water port featuring smart technology and green development. It is also set to establish a new land-sea transport corridor between Latin America and Asia. In Brazil, cooperation with China, ranging from soybeans and coffee to photovoltaic plants and satellites, is seen as “new” and “pragmatic.” In Trinidad and Tobago, the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate, a flagship BRI project, has become the first eco-friendly light industrial park in Latin America with complete 5G coverage. In Chile, over 90% of cherry exports go to China, and approximately 98% of the country’s products, including cherries, benefit from zero-tariff treatment under their bilateral free trade agreement.

People-to-people exchanges between China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries are becoming more frequent and sincere. These include cross-cultural exhibitions highlighting the dialogue between China’s ancient Shu civilization and Peru’s Inca civilization, joint archaeological explorations by Chinese and Honduran experts, and an increasing number of exchange students. These exchanges are reflected in the Chinese poem: “True friendship knows no distance; even thousands of miles apart, we remain close neighbors,” showing that China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries are growing closer as friends and partners with shared values.

The world has every reason to anticipate a more captivating chapter in the development of a China-Latin America and Caribbean community with a shared future. This community will serve as an example of South-South Cooperation and bring stability and optimism to a world facing many challenges.

China Mosaic

New chapter in China-LAC cooperation: Though oceans apart, kindred spirits remain connected

SOURCE China.org.cn

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