Half of the globe apart, still good neighbors: Xi Jinping's affinity with Latin America

"Today we have a very large presence of Chinese companies in Brazil ... This has contributed to the reindustrialization of Brazil," said former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in a recent interview with Xinhua. She is now head of the New Development Bank, a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS group.

In late September in Beijing, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi presented Rousseff with the Friendship Medal, China's highest award for foreign nationals, to honor her contribution to the China-Brazil friendship.

Rousseff said she was amazed by China's remarkable development in recent decades. She spoke highly of Xi's philosophy of people-centered development. "I share deeply" that vision, she said.

China, led by Xi, is striving to realize its dream of national rejuvenation, while unity, cooperation, development and revitalization are the dreams of the Latin American people. In Xi's eyes, China and Latin American countries are like-minded good friends and partners marching forward hand in hand.

"The 'Chinese Dream' and the 'Latin American Dream' are closely linked. Both sides should take the courage to pursue the dream and jointly make the dream come true," Xi has said.