The 16th edition of the China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Business Summit commenced on Thursday in Beijing, bringing together a diverse gathering of more than 1,000 participants. Attendees include government officials, leaders of international organizations, and representatives from the business sectors of both China and LAC countries.
Under the overarching theme of “Open Innovation, Shared Development,” this two-day summit sets out to invigorate practical cooperation between China and Latin America. Its primary objectives are to boost bilateral trade and investment and foster the development of a mutually beneficial China-LAC community for the future.
Ren Hongbin, the President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), articulated the council’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with institutions such as the People’s Bank of China and the Inter-American Development Bank. The CCPIT aims to leverage its pivotal role in facilitating connections between governments and enterprises, bridging domestic and international markets, and streamlining the flow of supply and demand. This concerted effort is geared toward elevating economic and trade cooperation between China and LAC to greater heights in terms of scale, scope, and sophistication, as emphasized by Ren.
During the inauguration ceremony, representatives from the business sector jointly unveiled a comprehensive cooperation initiative. This initiative encompasses endeavors to propel the digital economy’s development, bolster agricultural cooperation, enhance cultural and tourism collaborations, harness the potential of a green economy, and foster the growth of a harmonious China-LAC community for the future.
The summit’s agenda includes a plenary session, four parallel meetings, and five supporting events. As part of a rotating schedule, this annual event alternates between being held in China and various LAC countries. Over the years, the China-LAC Business Summit has successfully organized 15 sessions, taking place in Chinese cities like Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Chengdu, as well as in countries such as Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico, among others.
