The cooperation between China and Latin America is based on common interests and mutual needs, China's Foreign Ministry said on Friday, after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned countries in the region against excessive reliance on economic ties with China.
"Today China is getting a foothold in Latin America. It is using economic statecraft to pull the region into its orbit; the question is at what price," Tillerson said in a speech ahead of his visit to Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Jamaica. He also said Russia's growing presence in the region was "alarming as well."
The allegation was entirely against the truth and displayed disrespect to the vast number of Latin American countries, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attends the US Qatar Strategic Dialogue at the State Department, in Washington, DC, Jan. 30, 2018. /AP Photo
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attends the US Qatar Strategic Dialogue at the State Department, in Washington, DC, Jan. 30, 2018. /AP Photo
As developing countries, China and the Latin American countries are facing the common tasks of development and their win-win cooperation is based on equality, reciprocity, openness and inclusiveness, said the spokesperson.
"China is a major international buyer of Latin American bulk commodities, and imports more and more agricultural and high value-added products from the region," Hua said, adding that China's investment in and financial cooperation with Latin American countries are in full accordance with commercial rules and local laws and regulations.
Hua said the second ministerial meeting for the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum held last month passed three outcome documents, which showed a high degree of consensus by Latin American countries on deepening cooperation with China.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Chile's President Michelle Bachelet at the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 22, 2018. /VCG Photo
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Chile's President Michelle Bachelet at the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 22, 2018. /VCG Photo
"The development of China-Latin America ties does not target or reject any third party, nor does it affect the interests of third parties in Latin America," Hua said, urging relevant countries to abandon the outdated concept of a zero-sum game and look at the development of China-Latin America relations in an open and inclusive manner.
Source(s): Reuters
,Xinhua News Agency