China will continue enhancing cooperation with Latin American countries with focus on improving people's wellbeing, said a foreign ministry spokesman at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
Lin Jian, the spokesman, made the remarks in response to a media query on an interview with Oswaldo Mamani, a Peruvian craftsman whose alpaca wool products were introduced to the Chinese market through the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and have now became highly popular among the Chinese.
"We have heard the story of Peruvian craftsman Oswaldo Mamani. The alpaca toys he made attracted flocks of Chinese consumers and were the star exhibits of the 7th CIIE. To my knowledge, Mamani's craft shop used to have one floor only and the annual sales of its alpaca toys were just over a hundred. Now the expanded craft shop has three floors and has helped to improve the lives of hundreds of craftsmen. As they said, China, a country at the other end of the world, has completely changed their lives," said Lin.
The spokesman said that like Oswaldo Mamani, many Latin Americans are now enjoying better lives as the ties between their countries and China have been strengthen.
"China has always prioritized major public welfare projects in its cooperation with Latin American countries. Exciting and moving stories like that of 'warm alpaca' are plenty. For example, the Belo Monte ultra-high-voltage transmission project, a 'power highway' that stretches from northern Brazil to the south, lifted over 22 million Brazilians out of power shortage. China has also built multiple 'small but beautiful' public welfare projects in the Latin American countries. For instance, the two China-aided urban water supply projects in Costa Rica brought safe drinking water supply to nearly 40,000 local residents and boosted local economy that has been stagnant for years due to water pollution," said the spokesman.
Lin said that improving people's wellbeing will continue to be the focus of the cooperation between China and Latin American countries so as to enhance the sense of gain and happiness of the people on both sides.
"China will uphold the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, and stay committed to the greater good and shared interests. With a focus on enhancing people's wellbeing, we will continue cooperating with the Latin American countries and strengthening solidarity so as to continuously enhancing the sense of gain and happiness of people on both sides," said Lin.
China to continue enhancing cooperation with Latin America to improve people's wellbeing: spokesman
China to continue enhancing cooperation with Latin America to improve people's wellbeing: spokesman
