China, Latin America should grasp post-pandemic opportunities amid challenges

To better boost post-pandemic recovery, China and Latin America should strengthen cooperation on trade, energy and scientific innovation, Chinese scholars said at a seminar in Beijing on Sunday and Monday.

The Chinese Association for Latin American Studies and the Institute of Latin American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, held a series of two-day academic activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the institute's founding. Some experts participated in the seminar online.

Latin America's great need of nuclear power in energy transformation and China's experience in nuclear power technology may foster growth for China-Latin America cooperation, said Zou Zhan, associate professor at the Southwest University of Science and Technology.

Zhou Zhiwei, vice-director of the institute's Department of International Relations, said China and Latin America can strengthen cooperation in resource and energy security and global governance, and explore new approaches, such as a free trade mechanism, service trade and capacity cooperation based on policy common ground.

Even though United States President Joe Biden may tone down protectionism and unilateralism that his predecessor Donald Trump trumpeted, added Zhou, the US will increasingly repel subjects outside the Latin America, especially China and Russia, due to the rising Monroe Doctrine.

"China and Latin America can exploit a considerable potential in scientific and technological cooperation," said Wang Wenjun, an assistant fellow of the Institutes of Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Development.

Wang added the two sides can improve allocating resources, including refining cooperation and increasing exchanges between the talents and establishing cooperation platforms, and promote enterprises' roles in sci-tech innovation and supportive systems, such as research and consultation, as well as early warning and management of risks.

Hong Chaowei, an assistant fellow at the institute's Department of Economy, said China and Latin America can strengthen cooperation in finance, BRI mechanism and digital economy, and explore new patterns.

The seminar was themed on new challenges of Latin American Countries' post-pandemic development and new trends of the China-Latin America relationship, with discussions on economy, politics and culture and international relations about Latin America.