The 4th Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and the LAC takes place in Beijing on October 23 (ZHANG WEI) 

"Having stood the test of a changing international landscape, China-Latin America relations have entered a new era featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and tangible benefits for the people," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his video address to the 6th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States on September 18.  

"The China-Latin America friendship is time-honored and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people," Xi said. 

The annual Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and the LAC has been established as part of efforts to promote increased exchange between China and Latin American Countries, and has become one of the most influential platforms in China-LAC relations. 

Liu Jiandong, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, speaks at the 4th Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and the LAC in Beijing on October 23 (ZHANG WEI) 

"The mutual political trust between China and the LAC has deepened at provincial levels as we have established consulting mechanisms, with many sister provinces," Liu Jiandong, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, said at the 4th Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and the LAC on October 23. "Using the platform, exchanges and interactions between the two sides have grown stronger, which in turn, has helped to achieve more in economic and trade cooperation," he added. "For example, XCMG Construction Machinery, China's top construction machinery maker, has played a significant role in Brazil's economic recovery."

According to the Beijing Declaration released at the closing ceremony of this year's forum, it is the common aspiration of all parties to carry out dialogue, and enhance mutual understanding and learning. All sides aim to strengthen friendly exchanges between local governments, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in multiple fields. 

"We welcome the intention to enrich the scope of the dialogue, involve more participants, and work together to build a cooperative network around the forum," it reads. "At the same time, all sides seek to promote the building of mechanisms related to the forum, and to explore the possibility of holding it in the LAC when appropriate." 

Yang Ping, Party Secretary of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies under China International Communications Group, releases the Beijing Declaration of the 4th Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and the LAC in Beijing on October 23 (ZHANG WEI) 

The declaration proposes the building of "a platform for knowledge exchange and cooperation between China and LAC countries in the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, so as to share knowledge, break information barriers, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and foster common development."

The document concludes with the hope that all sides will "continue to promote exchanges and share development experience, making the civilizations of China and LAC fine examples of harmonious coexistence and mutual enhancing between civilizations."  

This edition of the forum was organized by institutions including the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies under China International Communications Group (CICG), the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government. It was assisted by International Poverty Reduction Center in China and CICG Center for Americas. With the participation of nearly 200 political leaders, diplomats, scholars, media representatives and heads of international organizations, the two-day event shared experience on development paths and models, and discussed topics such as ecological civilization and green development, public health, social governance, digital society and smart cities.  

Beijing Declaration of the Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and the LAC 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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