Chinese-Peruvian community helps weave ties of friendship between China, Peru

The long-standing friendship between China and Peru has been greatly enriched thanks to the considerable contributions made by the Chinese-Peruvian community, who have played a vital role in fostering cultural exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding over the years.

The first Chinese immigrants arrived in Peru in 1849, and today, Peru is home to the largest Chinese population in Latin America. The impact of Chinese culture is evident throughout the country, where Chinese-Peruvians have become an integral part of society.

Ruben Tang, a third-generation Chinese-Peruvian and former director of the Confucius Institute at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, reflected on the unique experience of embodying both Peruvian and Chinese identities.

Tang, whose grandparents immigrated to Peru in the 1930s, expressed pride in his dual heritage and said he remains committed to deepening cultural exchanges between the two nations.

"I remember for example, when I went to Xi'an, and visited the Terracotta warriors - when you visit, for example, those places, it's a kind of motivation to know more about each other, [and make] the connection. For example, in the case of the Chinese descendants, for me in particular, I'm very eager to continue to know more about Chinese history, Chinese culture and at the same time continue promoting also the rich Peruvian culture to the world," he said.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Campos, a fourth-generation Chinese-Peruvian, also highlighted the intricate cultural blend that defines his identity.

With a Peruvian father and a mother who came from a Hakka family in south China's Guangdong Province, Campos has sought to delve deeper into the history of the Chinese-Peruvian community, who are referred to as "Tusan", a term derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Mandarin word for "Tusheng," meaning "born and raised in this place."

Campos founded the Tusanaje Project, an initiative which aims to promote and investigate the history, memory, and identity of the Tusan community, which also strives for a more integrated society that embraces cultural diversity.

"I come from a Tusan family, that is how we call Chinese Peruvian people here. So I grew up in an environment where they speak Hakka language and Cantonese and Spanish and having different meals and combinations of Peruvian and Chinese every day. So not only for us we are Chinese descendants, but for all the Peruvians is a very natural combination between Chinese and Peruvian cultural elements here in Peru," Campos said.

Ties between China and Peru are in the spotlight this week as Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to Peru for a state visit at the invitation of his Peruvian counterpart Dina Boluarte. Xi will also attend the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima.

Chinese-Peruvian community helps weave ties of friendship between China, Peru

Azerbaijan, the presidency of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), is now leveraging its abundant solar and wind resources to shift toward renewable energy in cooperation with China.

The Garadagh Solar Photovoltaic Plant, Azerbaijan's first major solar power plant, is a symbol of China-Azerbaijan cooperation on green initiatives under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"The Garadagh Solar Photovoltaic Plant project has reached full capacity connection to the grid. Its annual output can reach 500 million kilowatt-hours, supplying electricity to 110,000 households and reducing 200,000 tons of carbon emissions each year. Based on Azerbaijan's sunlight hours, we calculate the cost per kilowatt-hour to be about three cents," said Xiang Wang, a staff member of Dongfang Electric Co. Ltd., builder of the project.

"With its abundant sunshine hours, the electricity costs in this region are among the lowest globally. Azerbaijan can use fossil fuels as export commodities while achieving faster local energy transformation through renewable sources," said She Haifeng, vice president of LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd., a Chinese photovoltaics company and a world's major manufacturer of solar modules. Azerbaijan, also rich in offshore wind resources due to its proximity to the Caspian Sea, aims for renewables to account for 30 percent of its power mix by 2030, with plans to install 7 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or COP29, kicked off in Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku on Monday. Experts attending the conference noted that China's experience in solar and wind power will help Azerbaijan meet its green energy goals and establish a sustainable energy framework for the future.

"One of our first projects is to handle, I mean, is to produce renewable energies in the port using solar to reduce our carbon emissions for some of the equipment and facilities. And then going beyond that, we are also looking at other solutions, like wind, to replace the carbon emissions for other parts of the port. And of course, China companies can have a big role in this," said Eugene Seah, chief operating officer of Port of Baku.

Cooperation with China helps Azerbaijan harnesses green energy potential