FM: Policy paper shows China values Latin American, Caribbean ties

Source: Xinhua | 11-06-2008 08:50

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- For the first time, China issued a policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Wednesday, it is an important diplomatic move which shows that China puts high importance on relations with the region.

"The policy paper is to further clarify China's goals towards Latin America and the Caribbean," Yang told Xinhua. "It also maps out a guiding principle for future cooperation in various fields, so as to promote a continuous, sound, stable relationship with Latin American and Caribbean countries."

The policy paper reviewed the history of relations between China and Latin America. It explained China's view of the region and its policy goals, which include four parts: politics, economy, culture and security.

For politics, China wants to maintain and increase high-level exchanges between legislatures and political parties. It also wants to establish a consultation mechanism and have more cooperation in international affairs.

As for the economy, China proposed to increase bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, finance, agriculture, infrastructure construction, resources and energy, tourism, customs, quality inspection, and debt reduction.

For culture and social affairs, China wants to have more collaboration between the media, medical and health care sectors, poverty alleviation groups, as well as in fields such as science, technology and education.

China also suggested the two sides strengthen military cooperation and exchanges, cooperate on judicial affairs and non-traditional security issues.

Yang noted the paper embodied China's independent foreign policy of peace, as well as its principle of maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

"It will help the international community and the Chinese people understand China's foreign policy towards the region," the foreign minister said.

China established diplomatic relations with a large number of Latin American countries in the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years, the sides witnessed frequent exchanges of high-level visits.

Trade volume between China and the region exceeded a historic 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2007. China has become the region's third largest trading partner.

"China is the largest developing country while Latin America and the Caribbean is an important developing region. The two sides are facing similar development tasks and share broad common interests," Yang said.

He added a closer relationship is in the interest of both sides.

The foreign minister, in particular, mentioned the global financial crisis and called on the two sides to strengthen communication and cooperation to cope with it.

"China, Latin America and the Caribbean have common interests in preventing the crisis from spreading to the real-economy of both sides as well as to reform the international financial supervision system," he said.

Yang added, the Chinese government will seriously implement the policy paper and join hands with the region to push the relationship to a new high.

Editor:Zhang Ning