A seminar themed Moving Forward Through the Wind and Rain: Jointly Building a China-LAC Community With a Shared Future was held on November 5 local time in Lima, the capital of Peru.
Co-hosted by the China International Communications Group (CICG) Center for the Americas and China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd., the event aimed to deepen friendly exchange across all sectors between China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen people-to-people connections.
Gao Anming (left), Editor-in-Chief of the CICG, presents copies of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume IV) to Gustavo Cordero Jon Tay (central), President of the Peru-China Friendship Group, and Enrique Cornejo, former Minister of Transportation and Communications of Peru, at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
The seminar was held against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposal to build a China-LAC community with a shared future. During the seminar, CICG Editor-in-Chief Gao Anming, on behalf of CICG, presented copies of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume IV) to Gustavo Cordero Jon Tay, a Peruvian congressman and President of the Peru-China Parliamentary Friendship League, and Enrique Cornejo, former Minister of Transportation and Communications of Peru.
Gao Anming delivers a speech at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Gao said that over the past decade, the concept of building a China-LAC community with a shared future has deeply resonated with the people on both sides. He noted that in this new era, relations between China and LAC countries, characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and more benefits for the people, have led to substantial achievements across many areas of cooperation.
He highlighted that political trust between China and LAC countries is greatly strengthened, with high-level diplomacy helping to guide relations toward steady, long-term progress. Economic and trade cooperation has also deepened, with tangible successes reflecting the shared vision of a China-LAC community with a shared future. Furthermore, increasing people-to-people ties have laid a solid foundation for the enduring friendship between the two sides.
Gao underscored that China is now concentrating its efforts on advancing Chinese modernization, a unique development path that offers valuable insights for LAC countries and presents new opportunities for China-LAC relations. He expressed confidence that, with China and LAC countries working together to build a community with a shared future, the partnership has entered a new phase and that the next decade of China-LAC relations holds even greater promise.
Gustavo Cordero Jon Tay delivers a speech at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Cordero Jon Tay highlighted that China’s path of modernization brings numerous opportunities for LAC countries. He noted that China’s extensive experience in poverty alleviation offers valuable lessons and has advanced cooperation between Peru, China and the broader LAC region. The emphasis on social equity and justice throughout China’s poverty reduction efforts aligns closely with the values held in LAC countries, providing a strong foundation for further deepening bilateral relations and diplomatic ties.
He also pointed out that China’s direct investment has created huge business and employment opportunities in Peru and across the LAC region. Strategic alignment between large nations like Peru and China, he added, enhances development prospects and strengthens the foundation for a productive partnership.
Qu Weihua delivers a speech at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Qu Weihua, Vice President of China Yangtze Power International (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. and Vice Chairman of Peruvian electricity distribution company Luz Del Sur, said at the seminar that enhanced cooperation between Chinese and Peruvian enterprises in the fields of power equipment and technology has not only improved the stability and efficiency of Peru’s power grid but also infused new vitality into the nation’s energy sector. He emphasized that the partnership between China and Peru in advancing green energy development is a model of mutually beneficial cooperation, setting a powerful example for global green development.
Qu expressed his hope that China and Peru will continue to work hand-in-hand in building a China-LAC community with a shared future, promoting economic prosperity and social progress for both countries and the wider LAC region.
Enrique Cornejo delivers a speech at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Cornejo also expressed his hope that the two countries will strengthen connectivity and deepen cooperation to further advance their relationship. He suggested several areas for enhanced collaboration, such as developing port logistics hubs to facilitate trade between Peru and China and increasing trade in high-value-added products to better integrate with China’s vast market.
Cornejo highlighted the potential for knowledge-sharing on development strategies, particularly in supporting Peru’s economic zones. He noted that cooperation in the field of new energy vehicles could accelerate Peru’s transition to sustainable transportation.
Cornejo underscored the need for more research collaborations, including projects aimed at enhancing the productivity and capacity of Peru’s small and medium-sized enterprises. He expressed confidence that Peru’s development potential can be further unlocked through strategic cooperation with China, ultimately benefiting both countries.
The seminar also featured keynote speeches from esteemed experts and industry leaders.
Eduardo Yong Motta delivers a speech at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Eduardo Yong Motta, President of the Peruvian-Chinese Institute and former Minister of Health, noted that China places high value on trust and fairness, and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents a strategic opportunity for LAC countries, supporting economic growth that benefits all. He emphasized that the road of friendship and mutual understanding between LAC and China continues to expand, creating deeper connections and shared values.
Yong expressed optimism for the future, envisioning a strong and flourishing tree of friendship between Peru, China, and the wider LAC region, one that will bear increasingly fruitful results in the years to come.
Mario Gonzales delivers a speech at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Mario Gonzales, General Manager of Luz Del Sur, highlighted the critical role of cooperation with Chinese partners in advancing Peru’s socioeconomic development. Luz Del Sur was acquired by China Yangtze Power in 2019, bringing in advanced Chinese power equipment and technology that have bolstered Peru’s energy infrastructure.
Gonzales noted that the partnership has not only facilitated technological and market growth but also fostered cultural exchange and integration between the two sides. Looking ahead, he emphasized the commitment to continue working together, supporting the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future and advancing shared goals for prosperity and development.
Wang Lei delivers a speech via a video link on November 5
Wang Lei, a professor at the School of Government at Beijing Normal University, said that through the building of a closer community with a shared future, China and LAC countries are joining hands with nations across the Global South to promote unity and cooperation for mutual development. This partnership embodies genuine multilateralism, striving to uphold international fairness and justice while actively participating in and guiding constructive reforms within the global governance system. These efforts aim to contribute to the establishment of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Wang said that the collaboration between China and LAC countries has emerged as a vital source of momentum for global development and progress. It has also instilled confidence in a broader range of developing countries and regions, inspiring them to pursue collective growth and advancement.
Carlos Aquino delivers a speech at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Carlos Aquino, Director of the Center for Asian Studies at the National University of San Marcos and professor of economics, mentioned that Peru’s official joining of the BRI in 2019 marked the beginning of an important new phase of bilateral engagement between the two nations. However, he noted that Peru’s understanding of China remains limited. Forty-five years ago, China’s GDP was minimal, but today, its per-capita GDP has surpassed $10,000, showcasing numerous developmental experiences that Peru can learn from, he said.
Thanks to scholarships established by China, Peruvian students and researchers have opportunities to pursue advanced studies in China, said Aquino, adding that these educational exchanges are instrumental in fostering deeper mutual understanding between the peoples of both nations and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future between China and Peru, as well as between China and the LAC region as a whole.
Meng Kexin, head of the Peru office of the CICG Center for the Americas, releases the Spanish version of China Today magazine’s special edition at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
A Spanish-language short video—Wisdom Without Borders: True friends always feel close to each other, no matter the distance between them—was shown at the event. A special Spanish edition of the magazine China Today, themed China and LAC: The Embrace of Two Worlds, was released, along with the documentary Sailing Forward: Safeguarding the Blue Planet—Enterprises in Action (LAC Edition). These media offerings highlighted the profound friendship between China and LAC countries, rooted in equality and mutually beneficial cooperation, from multiple perspectives and through different formats.
Participants in the China-Peru Youth Cultural Exchange Forum exchange ideas at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
The event also included a China-Peru youth cultural exchange forum. Peruvian young entrepreneur Maria Esther Chia Canchis, along with Gian Pierre Gonzales, Director of the Department of Scientific and Technological Innovation at Luz Del Sur, Huang Jiqing, General Manager of China Communications Construction Co. in Peru, and Sun Yan, Coordinator of the Confucius Institute at Ricardo Palma University, shared their insights on building a China-LAC community with a shared future and explored the role of youth in deepening exchange and cooperation between China and Peru.
Li Yafang, President of the CICG Center for the Americas, hosts the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
Li Yafang, President of the CICG Center for the Americas, hosted and concluded the seminar, saying that the speeches and remarks from the guests, which reflected the concept of building a China-LAC community with a shared future, had resonated deeply with the people of both sides. She emphasized that the public on both sides hold high expectations for further cooperation in this shared endeavor.
Li also said that the CICG Center for the Americas will remain committed to its mission, acting as a bridge to foster close communication with partners and strengthen exchanges with people from all countries of the Americas, including Peru. The goal is to promote mutual understanding and closer ties, contributing to the advancement of a community with a shared future for humanity and supporting the development of stronger relations between China, Peru, and LAC countries for a brighter future.
Guests browse books and magazines at the seminar on November 5 (JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR)
The seminar attracted a diverse audience of nearly 150 representatives from political, academic, business and media circles, as well as think tanks, from both China and Peru.
The event was guided by CICG and China Three Gorges Corp., and co-organized by Luz Del Sur and China International Book Trading Corp.
