A Common Agenda for China and Latin America

(Shanghai, May 10, 2013) - "Latin America and China must move forward in unison to build a long-term, strategic partnership that is integrated, dynamic and balanced," said Enrique García, the executive president of CAF-development bank of Latin America,- during a five-day visit to China where he met with high-ranking political, financial and academic leaders in Beijing and Shanghai.

 

García made his remarks at the III CAF-ILAS Conference, one of the multilateral lending agency's bridges connecting both regions to promote sustainable development in Latin America.

 

In Beijing, during the first leg of García's trip, meetings took place with the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Export-Import Bank of China, and the International Economic Club of China. CAF's executive president underscored the excellent relations between the Latin American financial institution and China as part of his role to serve as a link connecting both regions.

 

"The economies of China and Latin America have experienced sustained economic growth in recent years, which has allowed both to mitigate the global financial situation. In this sense, the potential for greater collaboration holds significant importance for both regions in their quest to forge more impacting integration between Latin America and Asia," said García.

 

Development and Transformation: A Common Agenda for China and Latin America.

 

In observance of this year's theme of Development and Transformation: A Common Agenda for China and Latin America at the III CAF-ILAS Conference, more than 250 representatives from governments, the diplomacy corps, academia, the business sector and Chinese and Latin American media were in attendance.

 

The event fulfilled its objective of contributing to the exchange of knowledge and experiences in dealing with challenges facing both economies in today's international arena.

 

CAF Executive President Enrique García participated at an inaugural session moderated by ILAS General Director Zheng Bingwen. Also participating were Zhang Yunling, president of international affairs at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Cai Wu, Minister of Culture; Wang Jianye, chief economist at Export-Import Bank of China; and Mario Pezzini, director of the Development Center at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

 

Enrique Iglesias, secretary-general of the Ibero-American Cooperation Secretariat, delivered the keynote address, while successive workshops addressed strategic opportunities on a range of topics dealing with relations between Latin America and China, public finances and policies addressing the comparative needs of small- and medium-sized businesses.

 

Noted participants from Latin America included Alejandro Foxley, president of CIEPLAN and Chile's former Minister of Foreign Relations; José Antonio Ocampo, a professor at Columbia University and former Colombian Finance Minister; Anna Jaguaribe, director of the Institute for Brazil-China Studies; Osvaldo Rosales, director of the international trade and integration division at ECLAC; and Alicia García Herrero, chief economist for emerging markets at BBVA.

 

From China, participants included Cao Yuanzheng, chief economist at the Bank of China; Lv Wangshi, director of the department of external finances at the Institute of Fiscal Research; and Liu Yingqiu, dean of the graduate school at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, among other renowned Chinese experts.

 

The forum has become a gathering place for dialogue and insight into Latin American and Chinese affairs and forms part of a partnership agreement signed between CAF and the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (ILAS), the largest research center focusing on Latin America and the Asian nation.

 

Visit to Shanghai

 

CAF and SEGIB delegates also visited Shanghai to discuss Latin American trade opportunities with the city's Office of Financial Services, the stock exchange, the Academy of Social Sciences and Chinese business leaders.

 

Enrique García and Enrique Iglesias capped off the visit with a press conference at the Shanghai International Studies University, a consultancy for foreign policy and one of the country's principal learning centers, where both leaders addressed the role of emerging nations in the construction of a new international order as well as the challenges facing economic development in Latin America and its relations with China.