China can also exchange experiences in administration and governance with countries in the region. They have a lot in common, with similar ideas of development, a shared task of accelerating economic and social development, and a common need to prevent the "middle-income trap." By learning from one another, China and Latin American nations can jointly promote the development of human civilization.

Further steps

China and its Latino friends need to step up efforts to advance their relationship further.

A key precondition of promoting exchanges between countries is to enhance mutual understanding. It will be the same for China and Latin American nations. Due to the distance, different political systems, cultural differences and language barrier, the two sides still have a limited understanding of one another. Thus, there is a need for high-level exchanges in addition to non-governmental contacts. When advancing economic and trade relations, China and Latin American nations should also promote communication and cooperation in fields like education, culture, press, tourism, sports, science and technology, trade unions, youth and women's issues. Both traditional and new patterns and channels should be adopted in their bilateral exchanges.

They should actively deal with the "U.S. element." Having viewed Latin America and the Caribbean as its "backyard," the United States has been alert to China's involvement in the region. An American scholar once said that if former U.S. President James Monroe, who declared Latin America as the United States' Latin America in 1823 (known as the Monroe Doctrine), saw the presence of China, Iran and Russia in Latin America, he would have turned in his grave.

Actually, President Monroe could save such an effort. Considering its relationship with Latin America as part of South-South cooperation, China never targets its existence in the region at a third party. Economists with international institutions, like the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, believe the development of China-Latin America trade and economic relations is helpful for pushing forward the region's economic growth. In the meantime, the economic development of Latin America is favorable for the United States.

China and Latin America should emphasize their respective comparative advantages in economic communication. Comparative advantage is one of the bases of international economic relations. China's comparative advantage lies in its abundant labor resources, strong manufacturing ability and giant domestic market, while Latin America is endowed with extensive reserves of natural resources. With their respective comparative advantages, China and Latin America can pursue their own competitiveness to complement each other. Latin America should not view China's export of manufactured goods and import of natural resources as neo-colonialism.

They need to strengthen cooperation in participating in global governance. In particular, they should consult with and support each other in areas such as reforming international financial system, pushing forward the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations, combating terrorism and dealing with global climate change.

Expectations

International travel has become increasingly convenient, making mutual visits of high-level officials of different countries possible. However, the time difference and long distance between China and Latin America still limit frequent governmental visits between them. Hence, communicating and consulting through the special medium of a cooperation forum will greatly save diplomatic resources while enhancing mutual understanding.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation founded in October 2000 has made outstanding achievements, posing as a good reference for future cooperation between China and Latin America. Many African leaders and officials believe that the forum has provided a new dynamic to further China-Africa relations.

On June 26, 2012, then Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a speech at the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean headquarters in Chile's capital city Santiago, announcing the establishment of a China-Latin America cooperation forum to serve as a platform for promoting comprehensive collaboration between the two sides. This was the first time that China had made such a proposal.

China's appeal was actively echoed. At a summit held on January 28 in Havana, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States approved establishing a cooperation forum with China. As the community covers 33 countries in the region, the forum will mark another milestone of China-Latin America relations. It was reported that the first ministerial meeting of the forum is expected to open in 2014.

The two sides should also pay more attention to the 12 Latin American nations that do not yet have a diplomatic relationship with China, preventing a bad influence on relations across the Taiwan Straits. Furthermore, they should realize the institutionalization of the forum as soon as possible to guarantee efficiency and prevent empty talks. They need to prove to the international community, especially to the United States, that the forum is a new way to strengthen and promote South-South cooperation, and is not intended to hurt the interests of any third party.

The author is vice president of the Chinese Association for Latin American Studies