China announces $ 9.2 billion in credit for Latin America

China’s president, Xi Jinping, reaffirmed on Tuesday (13) the Chinese commitment to the global south when speaking at the opening of the 4th China-Celac Ministerial Forum in Beijing.

The meeting marks the 10th anniversary of the creation of the cooperation platform between China and the countries of the Latin American and Caribbean community (Celac) and was accompanied by presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gabriel Boric (Chile) and Gustavo Petro (Colombia).

At the opening ceremony, XI announced the granting of a new line of credit of US $ 9.2 billion to the region. Financial support aims to boost infrastructure, renewable energy and productive development projects.

“China supports the regional nations in defense of their sovereignty and national independence,” said Xi, noting that Beijing is ready to expand cooperation “in security, cultural exchanges and law application.”

Against Hegemonias, China defends multipolarity

Faced with a global scenario of growing tensions, Xi Jinping has made harsh criticism of tariff wars and protectionism. According to him, there are no winners in this type of dispute. “Bullying and hegemony only lead to isolation,” he said.

The president also denounced the existence of “clashes between blocks” and said that it is necessary to safeguard international justice based on true multilateralism.

The Ministerial Forum, which takes place at the National Beijing Convention Center, also formalized China’s intention to invite 300 Celac party leaders over the next three years to institutional visits to the country.

“Development and revitalization are our inherent rights. Equity and justice are our common aspiration,” said XI.

The initiative is part of the institutional reinforcement of Sino-Latin American cooperation. In 2024 alone, trade between China and the region exceeded US $ 518 billion, exceeding the goal established ten years earlier. The total of Chinese investments in Latin America and the Caribbean exceeded US $ 600 billion.

Boric, Petro and Lula highlight partnership and criticize unilateralism

In speaking at the opening, President Lula pointed out that China is today Celac’s second largest commercial partner and one of the largest investors in the region.

“The partnership with China is a dynamic element for the regional economy,” he said. Lula reiterated his criticism of the imposition of arbitrary tariffs and warned against the risk of a new cold war.

Present at the opening of the Forum, Chilean President Gabriel Boric defended the strengthening of free trade and praised regional integration with China.

“Free trade and just for the benefit of our peoples is the way for the progress and development of nations,” he said. Boric asked for a “quality leap” in bilateral cooperation.

The Colombian Gustavo Petro took advantage of the international stage to pin the Trump government. Without citing the US directly, he lamented that “dialogue within the Americas does not advance” and defended the diversification of alliances.

“Dialogue with other regions may be free of authoritarianism and imperialism,” he said. Petro also confirmed that Colombia will sign a memo adherence to the belt and route initiative, focusing on job creation for young people and artificial intelligence projects.

Cooperation lines and new regional challenges

The 4th China-Celac Ministerial Meeting ends with the adoption of a joint statement. The central themes of the meeting are electrical interconnection, renewable energy and commercial integration.

The forum’s guidelines are aligned with the initiative of the belt and Rota (BRI), which aims to improve transport infrastructure and ensure China access to the main natural resources of Latin America, such as lithium, copper, oil and rare lands.

In addition to institutional and economic cooperation, Xi Jinping defended educational, cultural and technological exchange.

According to Chinese president, the unit between China and Celac will be decisive to “maintain peace, promote stability and ensure global prosperity.” The discourse marks a clear strategic positioning amid the advancement of unilateralism and the protectionist pressures led by the United States.