Wang Yi meets LatAm leaders to boost cooperation

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met several leaders from Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries on Monday - including the Chilean president and his counterparts from Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela and Peru - on the sidelines of the second ministerial meeting at the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, in the Chilean capital Santiago.

LAC countries remain committed to further cooperation with China, and will play a bigger role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, LAC officials said during their meetings with Wang.

Chile's Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet pose for the family picture of the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (China-CELAC) in Santiago, Jan. 22, 2018. /AFP Photo

Mexico to play a bigger part in Belt and Road Initiative

During his meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray, Wang said Chinese President Xi Jinping had met Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries in Xiamen, China, last September. The two leaders reached an important consensus to promote bilateral cooperation.

This indicated the strategic importance and high level of China-Mexico relations, Wang said.

Noting that Mexico was a crucial junction on the ancient maritime Silk Road, Wang thanked the Latin American country for supporting the Belt and Road Initiative, and said China would like to deepen the bilateral practical cooperation.

He also said China is willing to strengthen its strategic communication and coordination with Mexico and hopes stable China-Mexico relations will promote peace and development in the region and around the world.

Videgaray said, with the global community facing uncertainty, the two countries should maintain coordination and cooperation on multilateral issues and join hands to mitigate climate change impacts.

He said Mexico was thankful to China for bringing the Belt and Road Initiative into the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum and was willing to play a bigger part in the realization of the initiative.

Cuba values China's role in global peace and stability

Wang told Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez that China has always supported Cuba's following a development path in line with its national conditions and appreciates Cuba's contribution to the establishment of the China-CELAC Forum and its outcomes.

He hoped Cuba will continue its important role in promoting cooperation between China and LAC.

Rodriguez said Cuba values China's important role in maintaining global peace and stability and promoting global economic development and South-South cooperation. Cuba is willing to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen coordination in global affairs, he said.

Chile to play positive role in Belt and Road Initiative

During a meeting with Wang ahead of the event, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative provides a fresh opportunity for the development of Latin America. She noted that Chile is willing to play a positive role to promote joint efforts in building the Belt and Road.

All Chilean parties agree on comprehensively deepening the Chilean-Chinese cooperation, the president said, expressing hope that the second ministerial meeting will achieve a complete success.

Wang, for his part, said more achievements are expected under the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Chile, and more Latin American countries are welcome to the joint efforts in building the Belt and Road.

China hopes to fully deepen and upgrade China-Latin America cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Wang said.

China, Venezuela vow to deepen all-round cooperation

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza (L) in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 22, 2018. /MOFA Photo

Wang also met his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza and said China has always supported Venezuela's legitimate efforts to safeguard sovereignty, and solve domestic issues through dialogue and consultation in line with its constitution.

Arreaza said his country appreciates China's support and assistance, and highly praised China for sticking to the non-interference principle.

Venezuela will seek to address its domestic issues in its own way, said Arreaza.

Venezuela stands ready to make joint efforts with China to deepen their all-round cooperation and achieve win-win results, he said.

China willing to expand cooperation with Peru

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets his Peruvian counterpart Cayetana Aljovin (L) in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 22, 2018. /MOFA Photo

Wang also met his Peruvian counterpart Cayetana Aljovin, and said China is willing to help Peru improve its infrastructure construction and deepen cooperation with it in new areas such as innovation and telecommunications.

The two countries should strengthen communication and coordination on global affairs, so as to enrich the meaning of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Peru, Wang added.

Aljovin said China is her country's biggest trade partner and has contributed to Peru's economic development.

Peru welcomes and supports the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to become a major participant in the program, in a bid to boost bilateral cooperation in vast areas, she noted.

Also on Monday, Wang met his counterparts from Trinidad and Tobago, and Bolivia, and the chiefs of regional organizations and institutions such as the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Development Bank of Latin America, and the Caribbean Development Bank.

(With input from Xinhua)

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