Latin American, Caribbean diplomats plant friendship trees in Beijing

A number of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) ambassadors to China on Friday participated in a tree planting activity in Beijing as a symbol to nurture friendship between their countries and China, ahead of the upcoming 4th ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

The ambassadors and representatives planted ginkgo saplings to symbolize that the friendship between China and LAC countries is thriving and vibrant.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum, and the 4th ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum will be held in Beijing in the first half of the year.

The diplomats said that over the past decade, the forum mechanism has been continuously improved, pushing China-Latin America relations into a new stage of equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and delivering real benefits to the people.

"The fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum will be held in Beijing in the first half of this year, which has received positive responses from LAC countries and regional organizations. I believe that the meeting will surely become a grand event of China-Latin America solidarity and cooperation, and set a new milestone for developing the relations between China-Latin America. At present, the preparations for the forum have entered the sprint stage. We are willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the ambassadors of Latin American countries in China to ensure the success of this meeting," Qiu Xiaoqi, special representative of the Chinese government for Latin American affairs, said at the tree planting event.

Many ambassadors said that in the current context of increasing global uncertainty and instability, the upcoming meeting will set a new milestone in the development of China-Latin America relations and help strengthen cooperation in the Global South.

"Cooperation within the framework of Belt and Road Initiative is an important way for Latin American countries and China to deepen their cooperation and promote trade." said Hugo Siles, ambassador of Bolivia to China.

"China has become the most prominent trading partner of all south American countries, and No. 2 trading partner for the whole Latin American and the Caribbean, and one of the key, most important actors in the areas of financing and investment, and also a very important actor in the field of cooperation," said Fernando Lugris, ambassador of Uruguay to China.

Latin American, Caribbean diplomats plant friendship trees in Beijing

Latin American, Caribbean diplomats plant friendship trees in Beijing

The sixth edition of Shanghai's iconic "5·5 Shopping Festival" kicked off on Thursday, alongside the 2025 International Consumption Season, in a renewed push to boost domestic demand and revitalize consumer spending.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, China Media Group (CMG), and the Shanghai Municipal Government, the event promises a vibrant mix of promotional campaigns, themed events, and immersive retail experiences across the city's commercial districts.

Centering on the theme "Quality Consumption, Demand Creation," the festival targets four key consumer sectors: services, big-ticket purchases, inbound spending, and emerging consumption trends. It also highlights new economic frontiers such as the debut economy, the silver economy, the nighttime economy, and the ticket-based economy—aimed at unlocking consumer potential and enhancing Shanghai's commercial vitality through new product launches, senior-friendly services, dynamic nightlife, and spending on cultural activities.

The festival launch ceremony also included the Fourth International Consumption Center City Forum. In a video address, Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, expressed hopes for deeper cooperation between Shanghai and Dubai as the two metropolises mark the 25th anniversary of their sister-city relationship. He emphasized their shared vision for urban development and prosperity.

Another highlight of the festival was the debut of the "CMG Select: Shanghai Pavilion." Combining celebrity hosts, culture, art, and premium brands, the pavilion leverages CMG's influential media platform to energize consumer activity and support Shanghai's drive to become a world-class consumption center.

The shopping festival will run through the end of June, with over 1,000 companies and thousands of brands set to launch more than 1,000 special events.

The 2025 International Consumption Season is a flagship event under the "Shop in China" campaign. Jointly launched by the Ministry of Commerce and five other government departments, the initiative will mobilize regions across the country to spotlight premium international and domestic goods. It will feature product debuts, first launches, and consumer-friendly measures to help both domestic shoppers and inbound tourists access high-quality global merchandise and enjoy top-tier services.

Shanghai launches major shopping festival to boost consumer spending