Santiago, August 7th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and the CPC delegation attended a seminar themed on “Chinese modernization’s opportunities for Chile and Latin America” at the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). More than 200 people attended the event, including José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, former President of Chile, Maya Alejandra Fernández Allende, Minister of National Defense of Chile, and representatives from the Chilean government, academia, business, think tanks, media, diplomatic missions and international organizations in Chile. 

Liu elaborated on China’s current economic situation and relations between China and Latin America, emphasizing that the positive trend of China’s economy in the long run has not changed, and China’s economic development prospects remain bright. Liu noted, despite the weak global economic growth momentum, China’s economy still achieved a medium-high growth rate of about five percent, ranking among the best among the world’s major economies. From the perspective of development potential, China’s economic development has robust momentum. China has the world’s second largest economic aggregate and a super-large domestic market of 1.4 billion, the world’s most complete industrial system and supply chain, the largest pool of high-quality talents, and abundant macro policy space, which provide a solid foundation for the future development of China’s economy. From the perspective of policy orientation, China’s economy is moving forward steadily while China deepens reform. In today’s changing and turbulent world, continuity, stability and certainty are significant policy dividends. China’s long-term and stable political and social environment ensures that China’s economy always moves along the established path, creating the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability. The CPC is always forging ahead. China will always hold high the banner of reform and opening up and solve development problems through reform. 

Liu introduced the main spirit of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He stressed that the Chinese side will further comprehensively deepen reform and promote Chinese modernization, which will provide broader market opportunities for countries around the world, including Latin American countries. The Chinese side is ready to, together with Latin American countries, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, promote cooperation such as the Belt and Road cooperation, and jointly build a community with a shared future for China and Latin America. 

Chen Dawei, head of a department of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Shaofeng, Secretary of the CPC Fengtai District Committee in Beijing, Huang Qingjie, deputy head of a department of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, and Zhong Shujia, deputy head of a department of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, respectively introduced the goals, tasks, measures of China’s modernization, the economic and social development of Beijing, Xi Jinping Thought on the Economy and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. 

Salazar said in his speech that China’s rapid economic development in recent years has not only benefited its own people, but also brought opportunities to countries around the world, including Latin American countries. In particular, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has strengthened infrastructure construction, and promoted inter-connectivity among countries, contributing to the development of all countries. Under platforms such as the joint construction of the BRI, China’s relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries have developed rapidly, which is of strategic significance to both sides. The ECLAC is willing to play its role to promote the development of relations between China and Latin America. 

The CPC delegation also answered questions on China’s economic growth momentum, prospects for China-Latin America relations, how regional integration can promote peaceful development in the Asia-Pacific region, and a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Founded in 1948, the ECLAC is one of the five regional commissions of the UN Economic and Social Council and has an important influence in Latin America.