Beijing, May 13, 2025 — Chinese President Xi Jinping called for deeper solidarity and strategic cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations during his keynote speech at the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum. Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Xi emphasized mutual development, peace, and global unity amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
China-CELAC Relations Reach Historic Milestone
Trade between China and CELAC countries surpassed $500 billion in 2024, marking a 40-fold increase since the start of the 21st century. Xi Jinping hailed this achievement as a “testament to the power of cooperation” and announced the launch of five major collaborative projects aimed at strengthening China-LAC relations in key areas: solidarity, development, civilization, peace, and people-to-people exchanges.
Highlights of Xi’s CELAC 2025 Speech
- Five Pillar Projects: Initiatives focused on mutual development, cultural exchange, global security, and peacebuilding.
- Visa-Free Travel: Citizens from five Latin American countries will be granted visa-free entry to China, with plans to expand the policy further.
- High-Level Political Exchanges: 300 CELAC political party officials will be invited annually to China over the next three years.
- Support for Multilateralism: Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and an open, rule-based global order.
- Security Cooperation: Plans include collaboration on cybersecurity, anti-corruption, drug control, and disaster response.
Xi’s Strong Stance Against Unilateralism and Hegemony
Xi reiterated China’s opposition to “bullying and hegemony,” stating that such practices only lead to global instability and self-isolation. He criticized tariff and trade wars, likely referencing past tensions with the U.S., emphasizing that “there are no winners in such conflicts.”
China’s Expanding Global Initiatives
President Xi reaffirmed commitment to the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, inviting LAC nations to actively participate. These initiatives aim to promote equitable development, inclusive security partnerships, and cross-cultural understanding around the world.
China also promised to work with CELAC countries on maintaining global supply chain stability and deepening cooperation in high-tech areas, infrastructure development, and clean energy transition under the broader framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
What This Means for Latin America
With China’s expanded focus on Latin America, experts see new opportunities for regional growth and diplomatic influence. The visa-free access initiative is expected to boost tourism and academic exchanges, while trade and technology partnerships may help smaller nations diversify their economies away from traditional Western dependencies.
However, some analysts also caution that Latin American nations will need to balance this growing relationship with domestic interests and global alliances.
Conclusion
President Xi’s message at the 2025 China-CELAC Forum makes clear that China is doubling down on its partnerships in the Western Hemisphere. By offering practical cooperation, political support, and cultural engagement, Beijing is positioning itself as a key player in Latin America’s future. Whether this reshapes the global order or sparks new rivalries remains to be seen.
For more insights on China’s global strategy, see our post on the Global Development Initiative and how the Belt and Road Initiative is evolving in 2025.
