Latin American and Caribbean leaders unanimously condemned unilateral economic and diplomatic actions by the United States that contravene international law during the 9th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa on Wednesday.
The summit culminated in the adoption of the Tegucigalpa Declaration, which strongly criticized unilateral U.S. measures that impede international trade.
In her opening remarks, Honduran President Xiomara Castro called on Latin American nations to stand together in response to the turbulence caused by chaotic U.S. policies, saying "the United States is redrawing its economic map without asking which peoples are left behind".
Other leaders voiced stern criticism of the United States in their speeches at the summit.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel accused the United States of reviving the Monroe Doctrine, pursuing an aggressive and unilateral agenda that threatens the sovereignty of Latin American and Caribbean nations.
These actions challenge multilateralism and international law by disregarding fundamental principles such as peaceful coexistence and sovereign equality, the Cuban leader said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that "arbitrary tariffs" destabilize the international economy. He also warned that "attempts to revive old hegemonies hover over our region."
Bolivian President Luis Arce also expressed strong opposition to the new wave of protectionism championed by major powers, which he said was hindering the development of other nations.
Latin American leaders condemn unilateral US actions at CELAC Summit in Honduras
Malaysia has extended its visa-free entry for Chinese citizens for another five years, a move that has already led to a sharp rise in tourist arrivals and reinforced economic and diplomatic ties with China.
The initiative follows China's decision to waive visa requirements for Malaysian travelers in late 2023, triggering a two-way tourism boom between the two countries.
Popular destinations like the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur are now filled with Chinese tourists taking advantage of the simplified entry process.
"The whole process is very simple. After arriving in Kuala Lumpur, we could use the self-service channel to tour Malaysia," said Nancy Niu, a Chinese tourist from Shandong.
For many, the ease of entry has changed travel plans.
"We'd originally planned to travel within China. But when we heard about the visa exemption, we decided to go to Malaysia. That made it very convenient. If you want to come during the May Day holiday, or National Day holiday, just for a few days, there's no need to apply for a visa, you can just come," said Louie Zhang, a Chinese visitor from Shenzhen.
Returning travelers are also noticing the difference.
"When I came to Malaysia before, there were too many steps. We had to queue in very long lines. Now, there's basically no queuing. It's very quick to clear immigration," said Wang Xiaofeng, a Chinese visitor from Sichuan.
Tourism operators are welcoming the policy extension as a long-term boost to the industry.
"This extension is very much welcome news because it has always been very good for the industry, looking towards China as one of its main source markets. This is going to mean that we're going to have a lot more time to plan, to really understand the Chinese market and to perhaps even cater to the new, upcoming trends that the Chinese tourists are looking for," said Nigel Wong, president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents.
So far in 2025, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia has risen by around 30 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Wang.
Chinese tourist arrivals soar as Malaysia extends visa waiver
