In the heart of San Salvador, a new cultural landmark has risen — the National Library of El Salvador. This impressive building, spanning 24,000 square meters, is not just a repository of knowledge with over 360,000 volumes; it’s a symbol of growing friendship between Latin America and China. Open 24/7, the library serves as a hub for youth education, art exhibitions, cultural performances, and academic conferences.
The library is one of more than 200 infrastructure projects that China has supported in Latin American and Caribbean countries in recent years. Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted these collaborative efforts during the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing this week. He noted that these projects have helped create nearly one million local jobs, emphasizing the tangible benefits of this partnership.
A Decade of Growing Partnership
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the official launch of the China-CELAC Forum. Over the past decade, China and CELAC countries have fostered a community based on equality, mutual benefits, and a shared future. Since 2012, China has been the region’s second-largest trading partner and has become the top partner for nations like Chile, Brazil, and Peru.
China has signed free trade agreements with five Latin American countries, and as of 2024, bilateral trade has soared to $500 billion — a staggering increase from the turn of the century. With 23 countries in the region signing memorandums of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the partnership continues to strengthen.
Notable BRI projects include the Chancay Port in Peru, South America’s first smart and green port, which has significantly reduced shipping times and costs, and is expected to generate thousands of jobs. Local support for these initiatives is strong, with a recent poll indicating that over 80% of Latin Americans view the BRI positively.
United for a Shared Future
At the forum, President Xi stressed the importance of unity among Global South countries in the face of increasing unilateralism and protectionism. He announced a series of initiatives aimed at fostering solidarity, development, and cultural exchange. These include a credit fund of 66 billion yuan (around $9.2 billion) to support development projects, thousands of scholarships and training opportunities, and the introduction of visa-free policies to facilitate easier travel.
“Independence and autonomy are our glorious traditions,” Xi said. “Development and rejuvenation are our natural rights, and fairness and justice are our common pursuits.”
These efforts aim to enhance cooperation and ensure that both China and Latin American countries can move forward together on their paths to modernization. With China offering support in areas like education, infrastructure, and poverty reduction, the partnership promises to bring about significant positive change in the region.
