The blueprint for China Latin America cooperation to move from "new" to "smart" in the next 3 years has been drawn up (global hotspot)

Recently, the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the China Latin America Forum was held in Beijing. The meeting adopted the Beijing Declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the China Latin America and Caribbean Community Forum and the Joint Action Plan for Key Areas of Cooperation among China Latin America and Caribbean Community Member States (2025-2027) (hereinafter referred to as the "Joint Action Plan"). The two sides have reached over 100 three-year cooperation projects, and China has also announced 20 measures to support the development of Latin America.

Artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, Internet of Things, 5G, aerospace... The outside world has noticed that high-tech and emerging fields have become one of the key areas of cooperation between the two sides in the next three years, demonstrating the continuous improvement of the technological "gold content" of China Latin America cooperation. In response to this, our reporter interviewed Song Junying, Director of the Institute of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the China Academy of International Studies, and Cao Ting, Director of the Latin American Studies Center at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, to interpret the achievements and prospects of China Latin America cooperation moving towards "new" and "intelligent" development.

The Joint Action Plan consolidates consensus between both parties

【 Observation 】

The Joint Action Plan includes many cooperation contents in high-tech fields. For example, "promote cooperation between the two sides in communication equipment, big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, smart cities, Internet plus, artificial intelligence applications, radio spectrum management, education informatization and other fields", "strengthen cooperation in the space field, jointly hold the China Latin America Beidou Cooperation Forum according to the priorities and capabilities of countries, and jointly build the China Latin America Beidou Application Cooperation and Development Center", "explore the possibility of cooperation to improve the 5G network coverage and digital applications in various fields in response to the needs of countries", etc.

Currently, cooperation between China and Latin America is expanding from traditional fields to areas such as new energy, digital technology, and cross-border e-commerce. Bolivian scientist and President and founder of the Andean Countries Science and Technology Organization, Marc Cabello, pointed out that China, Latin America, and the Caribbean are ready to jointly build the future, and technological cooperation is no longer a secondary issue, but a core element of foreign policy and regional development.

[Interpretation]

Song Junying: From the perspective of the Joint Action Plan, China Latin America cooperation has comprehensively expanded and upgraded in quality, expanding from traditional commodity and primary product trade to high-tech fields such as big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and aerospace. It is not only based on the current situation, but also oriented towards the future.

From the perspective of cooperation momentum, there is a consensus on development between China and Latin America. Currently, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is in full swing, and there is a certain gap in technological innovation among Latin American countries. China is at a critical stage of upward technological innovation, and both sides intend to use technology as a new growth point for cooperation; China and Latin America also have complementary advantages - in recent years, China's level of independent innovation has been continuously improving, and its foreign trade "new three types" and digital information technology development are at the world's leading level. Latin American countries are constrained by their economic development level and have limited funds invested in scientific research, but they also have resource advantages in new energy and other fields, and both sides have cooperation needs.

Over the past 10 years, the China Latin America Forum has established mechanisms such as ministerial level meetings, the "Four Horsemen" foreign ministers' dialogue between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the National Coordinator's Meeting. It has held over 100 events, including four ministerial level meetings and 31 sub forums in various fields, building the main channel for overall cooperation between China and Latin America. Among them, forums such as the Science and Technology Innovation Forum, the Digital Technology Cooperation Forum, and the Aerospace Cooperation Forum were successfully held, providing a broad platform for scientific and technological cooperation between the two sides and promoting the formation of a multi-level and multi field cooperation network.

Cao Ting: Big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence applications, 5G, aerospace and other fields are the forefront and hotspots of global technological development today, representing the direction of future economic development. The Joint Action Plan focuses on the above-mentioned areas, reflecting that China Latin America cooperation is constantly focusing on emerging fields, emphasizing innovation driven, and becoming increasingly strategic and forward-looking.

The cooperation between China and Latin America is moving towards a "new" and "intelligent" direction, which is driven by both external opportunities of global technological change and internal development needs of both sides. On the one hand, China has advanced technology and experience in fields such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and aerospace. Expanding technology application scenarios and market space through international cooperation can promote China's transformation from a "manufacturing powerhouse" to an "innovation powerhouse". On the other hand, the Latin American region has long had problems such as a single industrial structure and insufficient technological innovation, and urgently needs to achieve economic structural transformation, promote employment, and bridge social gaps through digital technology and high-end industry cooperation. Therefore, there is a certain complementarity between China and Latin America in high-tech cooperation.

Technological cooperation promotes mutual benefit and win-win outcomes

【 Observation 】

In recent years, China Latin America technological cooperation has demonstrated effectiveness. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Phoenix Industrial Park, the flagship project of the "the Belt and Road", has become the first environmental light industrial park in Latin America with full coverage of the 5G network, promoting the upgrading of local industries; In Colombia, an increasing number of Chinese brand electric taxis have become a new landscape for urban green transportation; In Brazil, the China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite Cooperation Project has achieved fruitful results, benefiting local development in areas such as environmental and disaster monitoring, water resource management, and urban planning... Ronnie Lins, Director of the Brazil China Research Center, believes that the continuously developing Latin American China partnership represents more opportunities for Latin American countries to independently achieve economic modernization and promote more sustainable development.

[Interpretation]

Song Junying: China and Latin America have become a community of shared future, with a clear foundation of equal treatment, strong driving force of mutual benefit and win-win, open and inclusive character, and fundamental pursuit of benefiting the people. It has vibrant vitality and broad development prospects. In the field of technology, cooperation between China and Latin America is beneficial for both parties.

——For Latin American countries, cooperation between China and Latin America has not only improved in traditional fields such as infrastructure construction, agriculture, and energy minerals, but also achieved rapid development in emerging cutting-edge fields such as 5G, digital technology, and new energy. This is conducive to the transformation and industrialization level of Latin American countries' manufacturing industry, enhancing economic resilience and sustainability, and promoting local economic development and social progress. It also promotes their digital, green, and intelligent transformation, allowing more people to enjoy the benefits of technology for good.

——For China, deepening and solidifying technology cooperation between China and Latin America is beneficial for Chinese enterprises and technologies to "go global", expand overseas markets, serve the new development pattern of "dual circulation", and help promote high-quality development of the domestic economy. China showcases the concept of "technology knows no borders" through cooperation, demonstrating its great power responsibility in advocating "open science", opposing technological monopolies, and promoting global technological inclusiveness. This is conducive to driving more countries, especially those in the global South, to participate in scientific and technological innovation cooperation. This is a vivid manifestation of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of technology.

Cao Ting: Cooperation between China and Latin America in the high-tech field can bring many benefits to both sides.

One is to help Latin American countries achieve industrial upgrading and economic structural diversification. For example, China's investment in building electric vehicle and lithium battery production plants in Latin American countries can help upgrade the mining economy of these countries; China's assistance in developing digital agriculture in countries such as Brazil can help improve agricultural production efficiency and increase economic benefits.

Secondly, it helps Latin American countries reduce social inequality and innovate social governance. The cooperation in digital technology between China and Latin America will help Latin American countries improve their level of information technology construction, create remote platforms in fields such as healthcare and education, and expand the coverage of medical and educational services. At the same time, digital technology cooperation can also help Latin American countries build smart cities and digital governments, improve management level and efficiency.

Thirdly, China Latin America technological cooperation can help break the monopoly of a few countries on key technologies, reduce the technological dependence of developing countries on developed Western countries, promote the development of technology standards and intellectual property rules in a more equitable direction, and also help both sides explore new economic growth points and development drivers together, in order to further enhance their position in the global industrial chain and innovation chain.

Establishing a model of global southern cooperation

【 Observation 】

Talent cultivation is a key component of the Joint Action Plan. Both China and Latin America expressed their intention to strengthen the construction of intergovernmental mechanisms for scientific and technological innovation cooperation, promote mutual visits and exchanges among researchers, and advance joint technological research that meets the actual needs of member countries and reflects common interests; Explore the establishment of a training program for young scientists in China and Latin America; Explore the establishment of joint laboratories to support young scientists from Latin American and Caribbean countries to conduct short-term scientific research in China; Carry out digital talent training courses and explore the establishment of a dialogue mechanism for e-commerce cooperation between China and Latin America.

At the first China Latin American and Caribbean Countries Science Day held in April this year, China stated that it will continue to uphold the concept of open, fair, just, and non discriminatory international scientific and technological cooperation, adhere to the principle of "science knows no borders and benefits all mankind", and build a more open environment for scientific and technological innovation.

[Interpretation]

Song Junying: China has long adhered to the principle that science and technology are the primary productive forces, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force. It has deeply implemented the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talent, and innovation driven development, and has accumulated successful experience in promoting scientific and technological progress and serving economic and social development. However, Latin American countries have insufficient investment in human resources development, especially in science education, and how to cultivate scientific and technological talents has become a difficult problem for many countries. In this regard, China adheres to the concept of "teaching people how to fish is better than teaching them how to fish", and helps Latin American countries cultivate local scientific and technological talents through various means, demonstrating responsibility and accountability. The relevant cooperation not only creates short-term opportunities for Latin American countries, but also promotes the exchange of experience in governance and other aspects between the two sides in the long run.

Cao Ting: China Latin America technological cooperation embodies several characteristics of China's policy towards Latin America: firstly, equality, mutual benefit, and common development. The relevant measures taken by China are based on equal partnership, aimed at promoting common development and reflecting the concept of mutual benefit and win-win. The second is to focus on sustainable development. Joint cultivation of scientific and technological talents contributes to the sustainable development of Latin American countries and provides a popular foundation and talent guarantee for future cooperation between China and Latin America. The third is to embody the correct concept of righteousness and benefit. China's relevant measures do not come with any political conditions and have won the trust and respect of Latin American countries, laying a solid foundation for the healthy and stable development of China Latin America relations.

In the future, China Latin America technological cooperation needs to be coordinated from multiple levels.

At the level of mechanism construction, both parties need to further improve the cooperation mechanism, strengthen top-level design and policy docking, and clarify the division of responsibilities, timetable, and roadmap in major projects. At the same time, we will promote the signing of special cooperation agreements in fields such as artificial intelligence and big data, providing institutional guarantees for technology standard docking and cross-border data flow.

In terms of project planning, based on the specific national conditions, technological foundations, and practical development needs of different Latin American countries, we will jointly participate in project planning with the governments and enterprises of Latin American countries, and attach importance to communication with local communities, conduct risk assessment, environmental assessment, and benefit assessment, and promote mutual benefit and win-win between China and Latin America.

In terms of talent cultivation, we will deepen technology transfer and talent cultivation, and consolidate the foundation of cooperation. Strengthen cooperation and exchange with universities and research institutions in Latin American countries, promote the exchange of young scientific talents between China and Latin America, and invite Latin American scientists to jointly conduct research with Chinese universities and enterprises. At the same time, actively transforming and applying the joint research results of China and Latin America into practical projects, and further promoting scientific and technological cooperation through practice.