LATINO LINK: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan (second right, front) visit a farmer's family in Costa Rica on June 3 (LAN HONGGUANG)

China and Costa Rica forged diplomatic relations in 2007. Costa Rica is the only Central American country to have established diplomatic relations with China. The two have signed a bilateral free trade agreement, and China is now Costa Rica's second biggest trade partner. In addition, China provided Costa Rica with assistance totaling nearly $160 million from 2006 to 2012. Costa Rica has offered an encouraging example to other Central American countries that are hesitating to build a diplomatic relationship with China.

Chen pointed out that while cementing bilateral ties, President Xi's visit to Costa Rica will exert a positive influence on other Central American countries.

Mexico was the last leg of the Chinese president's Latin America trip. Xi and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Peña Nieto agreed on June 4 to lift the bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership." They reached consensus that strengthening China-Mexico long-term friendly cooperation serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and helps promote unity and cooperation among developing countries.

Mexico, one of the most important emerging markets, is the second biggest economy in Latin America. It is also one of China's most important partners in the region. The two countries established diplomatic relations 41 years ago. In 2003, the two sides confirmed their strategic partnership. Now China is Mexico's second biggest trade partner, and Mexico is China's second biggest trade partner in Latin America.

Chen pointed out that the China-Mexico relationship is of global and strategic importance, as both of them are influential developing countries. "Their communication and coordination on important global issues will help make the international order and system fairer and more equitable," Chen stressed.

Flourishing partnership

It is worth mentioning that high-level exchanges between China and Latin America have been frequent since the Chinese leadership transition. Before President Xi's three-nation trip, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao made his first tour to Venezuela and Argentina. China-Latin America relations are an integral part of the Chinese Government's overall diplomatic balance.

"The Chinese president's Latin America visit was aimed at deepening China-Latin America relations and improving long-term cooperation with countries in the region. In this way, their relationship can realize a breakthrough of comprehensive development with mutual political trust, reciprocal economic cooperation and active cultural dialogue," said Chen.

Before kicking off the tour, Xi gave an interview with media from the three Latin American countries, in which he suggested a four-point view of developing the China-Latin America relationship: Politically, he stressed strengthening mutual strategic trust, support and understanding on major issues concerning each other's core interests; economically, Xi said practical cooperation would bring real benefits to Chinese and Latin American peoples; in terms of international affairs, he advocated intensifying coordination to protect their essential common interests and the shared interests of developing countries; and lastly, he underlined the need to build the China-Latin America Cooperation Forum as a better platform for pushing forward all-round cooperation between China and Latin America.