Xi to attend opening ceremony of fourth ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend and deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing on May 13, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Sunday.

As agreed by China and CELAC, the meeting will be held in Beijing on May 13, and will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the spokesperson.

Foreign ministers or representatives from CELAC countries, and heads of relevant regional organizations will attend the meeting, said the spokesperson.

During a press briefing on Sunday about the meeting, Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Miao Deyu said that President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony and deliver an important speech, reviewing the development of China-LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) relations, elaborating on the rich connotations, achievements, and broad prospects of the China-LAC community with a shared future, and proposing new initiatives and measures for advancing the relationship, which will provide guidance and inject new momentum for the steady and long-term development of China-LAC relations.

The meeting is expected to adopt multiple outcome documents on cooperation in areas such as technological innovation, economic and trade investment, artificial intelligence, finance, infrastructure, agriculture and food security, industry and information technology, energy and minerals, and Belt and Road cooperation, demonstrating both sides' firm commitment to peace, development, and cooperation, Miao said.

Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the official launch of the China-CELAC Forum, Miao said holding the fourth ministerial meeting is an important step agreed by both sides to review the past, discuss the cooperation and pursue a shared future.

With significant importance in China-LAC cooperation, the fourth ministerial meeting will send a clear message of China and CELAC countries working together in solidarity to jointly address global challenges, said Miao.

President Xi has paid six visits to Latin American and Caribbean region, having extensive interactions with leaders of regional countries on bilateral and multilateral occasions, and drawing up the blueprint for developing China-LAC relations to usher in a new era featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and tangible benefits for the people, Miao noted.

He said both China and the CELAC countries support economic globalization, multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, oppose unilateralism and economic bullying, and oppose politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade relations.

China stands ready to take the meeting as an opportunity to discuss plans of development cooperation with the CELAC countries and jointly contribute to addressing global challenges, promoting global governance reform and safeguarding world peace and stability, said Miao.