Policy paper on Latin America, Caribbean boosts co-op

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-12 14:50

MEXICO CITY -- China's first policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean issued last month demonstrates the importance of the ties and the great potential of the cooperation between the two sides, a Mexican scholar said Thursday.

"The formation of the principles that the Chinese policy registers is an important step to facilitate more achievements," Velia Hernandez, a China expert and a professor at the Autonomous National University of Mexico, told Xinhua in an interview.

The policy paper sets clear the enormous potential that lies in such fields of the bilateral cooperation as trade, investment, finances, agriculture, infrastructure, resources and energy, tourism, customs, quality inspection, culture and education, Hernandez said.

She said the policy paper came out at an appropriate time when China's ties with the region have been on a rise.

For example, she said, trade between China and the region in 2007 surpassed US$100 billion with China becoming the third biggest trade partner of the region.

This document is the materialization of the Chinese foreign policy that has supported the developing countries and advocates the promotion of South-South ties, the expert said.

The policy paper displays China's "responsible approach" in its cooperation with the region by explicating goals, Hernandez said, noting its positive influence will be seen in a short period of time.

The Chinese government on November 5 launched its first-ever policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, mapping out an overall blueprint for future cooperation between the two sides.

It says that the Chinese government views its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean from a strategic plane and seeks to build and develop a comprehensive and cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development with countries in the region.