The Ministerial Conference of the fourth China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, set to be held in south China's island province of Hainan, will bring new opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between China and Caribbean countries by spotlighting cooperation in emerging areas, an official with the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.
At a press conference in Beijing, Lin Feng, Director General of the American and Oceania Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce, announced that the conference, co-hosted by the ministry and the Hainan provincial government, will be held in Qionghai City from Sept. 12 to 14.
This event will bring new opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Caribbean countries and inject fresh momentum into the economic development of the participating countries, the official noted.
"This conference will focus on cooperation in emerging areas and explore green, low-carbon, and digital technologies to bring new opportunities and models for China-Caribbean economic and trade cooperation, better empowering the cooperation. It will also support Caribbean countries in better implementing the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Lin said.
"We welcome Caribbean countries to present their policies and visions for developing green, blue, and digital economies, and to jointly explore new approaches for high-quality cooperation between China and the Caribbean," he said.
The China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum mechanism was established in 2004. Aimed at promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and the Caribbean for mutual development, this forum serves as the highest-level inter-governmental economic and trade dialogue mechanism between China and Caribbean countries.
To date, three sessions have been held: in Jamaica in 2005, in Xiamen City in east China's Fujian Province in 2007, and in Trinidad and Tobago in 2011.
China-Caribbean economic forum to bring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation: official
The China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum is expected to bring new vitality to the global development and human civilization, said Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Beijing.
Petro, who delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum on Wednesday, told China Media Group (CMG) in an interview, while giving a special mention of the importance of the forum as a platform to reshape multilateralism.
"This Forum, held here in China, comes at a pivotal moment in history. And that's precisely what makes it so significant. It is taking place at a time when multilateralism is in urgent need of reshaping. There are some powers who believe they can rule the world through intimidation and shows of force. But with China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries standing together, we must make them understand: history is full of hard lessons. Those who once flexed their military might did not prevail. They may have enjoyed momentary success in the past, but this time, history will not repeat itself," he said.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum's operation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in his speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum that under the careful cultivation of both sides over the past 10 years, the China-CELAC Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree.
Petro hailed the relations between China and LAC countries over the past decade, saying that the cooperation is expected to energize the global development and human civilization.
"Yes, exactly, a tree. A strong and thriving tree, with deep and well-developed roots firmly anchored in the earth. There's no doubt that over the past ten years, trade in physical goods between China and LAC countries has grown substantially. China is involved in building the Bogota metro project. China is also constructing a port in Peru, and many other large-scale infrastructure projects are being advanced through Chinese investment and engineering expertise. When we link the cultural and civilizational threads of China and LAC countries, it's as if we are nurturing a living tree, one that grows tall toward the sky and promises to bring new vitality to the human civilization," he said.
China-CELAC Forum brings new vitality to global development: Colombian president
