At the beginning of 2015, the first Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (referred to as China-CELAC Forum) was held in Beijing. The meeting not only pushed China-Latin America relations to the new stage of the simultaneous development in bilateral cooperation and overall cooperation, but also symbolized the full coverage of the mechanism of China's overall cooperation with other developing countries. What's more, it demonstrated the important position of Latin American and the Caribbean region in China's diplomatic architecture.
2015年年初,中国—拉美和加勒比国家共同体论坛(简称“中拉论坛”)首届部长级会议在北京举行。会议不仅推动中拉关系进入双边合作与整体合作并行发展的新阶段,也标志着中国与发展中国家整体合作机制实现全覆盖,更显示了拉美和加勒比地区在中国外交格局中的重要地位。
Over the past year, with the careful nurturing of both sides, the seedling of the China-CELAC Forum thrived and presented its great vitality. The overall cooperation, as an indispensable part of the Five-in-One new pattern of China-Latin America relations, provides new momentum for China-Latin America relations to move forward to a higher level.
一年来,在双方精心培育下,中拉论坛的嫩苗茁壮成长,展现出蓬勃生机。整体合作作为中拉关系五位一体新格局中不可或缺的一环,为中拉关系向更高水平发展提供了新的动力。
The political mutual trust between China and Latin America is more consolidated. Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders and Latin American leaders have for many times exchanged views on promoting China-Latin America overall cooperation and forging China-Latin America community of common destiny, reached significant consensus, and led the development of China-Latin America relations. Latin American countries are enthusiastic about developing relations with China. Within the past year, many of their leaders paid visit to China, and Costa Rica and Ecuador have respectively established strategic partnership with China. China and Latin America keep good cooperation in international affairs and continuously support each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns.
中拉政治互信更加巩固。习近平等党和国家领导人多次与拉美领导人就推进中拉整体合作、打造中拉命运共同体深入交换意见,达成重要共识,引领中拉关系发展。拉美国家发展对华关系热情高涨,年内多国领导人访华,哥斯达黎加、厄瓜多尔分别同中国建立战略伙伴关系。中拉在国际事务中保持良好协作,在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上始终相互支持。
China-Latin America dialogue and cooperation run more smoothly. China had a new round of dialogues with Foreign Ministers of the quartet of the CELAC. The newly established Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs stays in communication and coordination with Latin American countries. As the original sub-forums under the framework of the China-CELAC Forum were successfully held, new sub-forums in fields like infrastructure construction, scientific and technological innovation, and political party exchanges were established and conducted fruitful activities. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Development Bank of Latin America and other organizations and multilateral institutions in Latin America paid great attention to and actively participated in China-Latin America cooperation.
中拉对话合作更加顺畅。中国同拉共体“四驾马车”外长举行新一轮对话。新设立的中国政府拉美事务特别代表与拉方保持沟通协调。中拉论坛框架下的原有分论坛成功举办,基础设施、科技创新、政党交流等领域成立新的分论坛,并开展了富有成效的活动。联合国拉美经委会、拉美开发银行等其他拉美地区组织和多边机构高度关注并积极参与中拉合作。
China-Latin America interests are more closely interconnected. Over the past year, the China-Latin American Countries and Caribbean States Cooperation Plan (2015-2019) and China's 35 billion USD package financing arrangements for Latin America passed in the first Ministerial Meeting of China-CELAC Forum have been implemented smoothly. China-Chile FTA upgrading negotiation and China-Columbia FTA feasibility study proceed steadily. Transportation concerns of many agricultural products from Latin America to China were resolved. The RMB Clearing Bank was successively set up in Chile and Argentina. China's investment in Latin America and the amount of new engineering contract projects have increased significantly. The transformation of impetus in bilateral economic and trade cooperation begins to yield results.
中拉利益融合更加紧密。一年来,中拉论坛首届部长级会议通过的中拉合作五年规划和中方350亿美元一揽子对拉融资安排实施顺利。中国智利自贸升级谈判、中国哥伦比亚自贸可行性研究稳步推进,多种拉美农产品输华问题得到解决。人民币清算银行先后在智利、阿根廷设立。中方对拉投资和新签工程承包项目金额均大幅增长,双方经贸合作新旧动力转换初见成效。
China-Latin America friendship has stricken a deeper chord in the hearts of people. China is increasing scholarship and training quota for Latin America and the “Bridge for the Future” training program for 1000 young leaders of China and Latin America and the like have been carried out orderly, and the Science and Technology Partnership Plan and the Young Scientists Exchange Program between China and Latin America have been officially launched. China has proposed new initiatives including establishing dialogue mechanism between Chinese and Latin American civilizations received positive responses from Latin America. The Latin America Art Season, Caribbean Music Festival and other colorful activities have been carried out in China. China and Cuba have launched direct flights, which filled the gap of air routes between China and the Caribbean region and vigorously promoted people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation between China and Latin America.
中拉友好更加深入人心。中国增加对拉奖学金和培训名额、“未来之桥”中拉青年领导人千人培训计划等有序开展,“中拉科技伙伴计划”和“中拉青年科学家交流计划”正式启动。中方提出建立中拉文明对话机制等新倡议,得到拉方积极响应。拉美艺术季、加勒比音乐节等丰富多彩的活动在华举行。中国与古巴开通直航,填补了中国与加勒比地区的航线空白,有力促进中拉人民往来和旅游合作。
At present, China has entered a crucial stage of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-around way. Guided by the development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, opening up, and sharing, China is promoting the transformation and upgrading of economic and social development. Latin American countries are committed to pushing forward economic restructuring and industrial upgrading, and are in their key period of development. China and Latin America share common dreams and aspirations in their paths of development, and enjoy great potentials to deepen their cooperation.
当前,中国已进入全面建成小康社会的决胜阶段,以创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的发展理念为引领,推动经济社会发展转型升级。拉美各国正致力于推进经济结构调整和产业升级,处于发展的关键期。中拉在发展道路上有着共同的梦想和追求,双方深化合作大有可为。
Looking into the future, China and Latin America should stick to the cooperation principle of treating each other as equals, strengthen dialogue, pool consensus, and continuously consolidate the political foundation for China-Latin America comprehensive cooperative partnership. The two sides should stick to the cooperation goal of mutual benefit and win-win results, firmly hold onto the main theme of common development and promote the docking of their development strategies. The two sides should stick to flexible and pragmatic ways of cooperation, simultaneously take bilateral and multilateral approaches, and actively foster new growth points for cooperation. The two sides should stick to an open and inclusive cooperation spirit, seek common ground while shelving differences, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship.
展望未来,中拉要坚持平等相待的合作原则,加强对话、凝聚共识,不断夯实中拉全面合作伙伴关系的政治基础。要坚持互利共赢的合作目标,牢牢把握共同发展的主旋律,促进双方发展战略对接。要坚持灵活务实的合作方式,双边、多边并举,积极培育新的合作增长点。要坚持开放包容的合作精神,求同存异、兼容并蓄,增进彼此了解与友谊。
Looking back at 2015, the China-CELAC Forum has embarked on a smooth journey; looking ahead to the future, the China-Latin America overall cooperation will surge ahead with great momentum. Faced with the changing international landscape, the two sides, by working with one heart and one mind, will surely promote China-Latin America relations to make more progress and make new contributions to the development and prosperity of the world.
回首2015年,中拉论坛扬帆启程;放眼2016年,中拉整体合作蓄力再进。面对风云变幻的国际形势,双方同心协力、和衷共济,必将推动中拉关系取得更大发展,也必将为世界发展繁荣作出新的贡献。