More than 100 invited guests from 10 Ibero-American and Caribbean nations, including diplomats, businessmen and academics, joined with Chinese government officials from the province of Jiangsu, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and many other government experts and academics to attend the Fifth China, Latin America, Caribbean Forum on the Dialogue of Civilizations, in Nanjing, on Sept. 1.
As the Forum’s theme was “Building a Future China-Latin America Community Through the Global Development Initiative,” participants engaged in lively discussion on such topics as “building a high-quality development association between China and Latin America,” “building a network of knowledge for China-Latin American development,” and the role that the media can play in promoting a positive development perspective. One workshop focused on the importance of fostering an appreciation for Chinese language and culture in Latin America and the Caribbean, and of Latin American culture and literature in China.
Reflecting the participants’ positive views of the benefits derived from their relations with China, Guyana’s Ambassador Anyin Choo pointed out in her speech that China is the second-largest trading partner of the Latin America-Caribbean (LAC) region, and that the LAC region is also the second-largest destination for Chinese outbound investment. She said, “This translates into increased productive capacities, the transfer of skills and technologies, the creation of jobs, income and improved standard of living for the people of the LAC region and market opportunities and access to resources for the Chinese side,” Guyana’s News Room daily reported Sept. 1.
