By Arturo Rosales September 20, 2021
At the relaunch of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Mexico City on September 18, there was a surprise guest speaker at the end of the summit debate and presentations.
China’s President, Xi Jinping, delivered a video speech to CELAC’s 6th Summit, calling for the building of a community with a shared future. As CELAC’s biggest trading and investment partner, and since the US and Canada are not included in this organization, Xi’s presence albeit on video can be considered a body blow to US hegemony in the region.
Whether or not this was coincidental with the announcement of the tripartite security pact between the US-UK-Australia (AUKUS) to secure peace and protect western interests in the Pacific and South China Sea, China’s back yard is a moot point – but Back Yard Exclusivity could become a thing of the past.
What did President XI say in his speech?
At the invitation of Mexico, the rotating presidency of CELAC, President Xi Jinping delivered his video speech to the summit.
Xi pointed out that 10 years ago, CELAC was born under the efforts of Latin American and Caribbean countries to pursue independence and seek strength in unity, which was a milestone in the process of regional integration. In the past 10 years, CELAC has played an important role in maintaining peace and stability and promoting common development in the region.
Xi said that China attaches great importance to developing relations with CELAC, and supports CELAC in coordinating regional countries to carry out cooperation and cope with challenges.
“In July 2014, the leaders of regional countries and I jointly announced the establishment of the Forum of China and CELAC, which has developed a new way for the comprehensive cooperation between China and Latin America,” said Xi.
He added that over the past seven years, the forum has flourished and become a major platform for bringing together friendly forces from all walks of life in China and Latin America and has made important contributions to deepening China-Latin America relations.
Xi stressed that having stood the test of changing international landscape, China-Latin America relations have entered a new era featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and tangible benefits for the people.
“China-Latin America friendship is time-honored and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people,” said Xi.
He noted that since last year, facing the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak, China and Latin America have lent each other a helping hand and carried out all-around cooperation against the pandemic.
“China will continue to provide support to Latin American and Caribbean countries to the best of its capability, and help the regional countries overcome the pandemic at an early date and resume economic and social development,” Xi said, adding that China is willing to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries to overcome difficulties together and jointly create opportunities to build a community of shared future between China and Latin America”.
This is probably one of the major developments geopolitically and geo-strategically in the region since Hugo Chavez was elected President of Venezuela in December 1998
So, while President ‘Jittery’ Joe Biden is making nonsensical declarations saying that Venezuela is the main transit country for drugs entering the US and for cultivating coca and marijuana – all of which blatantly contradicts the UN report on drugs cultivation and trafficking in the northern part of South America – President Xi is offering cooperation and support. Now which politician would you go with?