At the invitation of CAFIU, a 20-member delegation headed by Mr. Gustavo Pacheco, former deputy speaker of the Peruvian Parliament consisting of representatives from the political circle, think tanks, NGOs and media in Argentina, Cuba, Mexico and Peru visited Beijing, Henan and Chongqing from Nov. 3-15, 2015.

 

The theme of this visit was “Knowing about China”. As the majority members came to China for the first time and had strong interest in learning about China’s latest development in various fields, CAFIU devised a program of rich content including lectures on special topics, discussions, on-spot investigations, which generated positive results.

 

In Beijing, Mr. Ai Ping, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and CAFIU Vice-President gave the delegation a briefing on the recently concluded 5th plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee, the 13th Five-Year Plan and the “new normal” of China’s economic development. Mr. Ni Jian, CAFIU Secretary-General exchanged opinions with the delegation members on future cooperation. CAFIU Deputy Secretary-General Zheng Yao and CAFIU Council Member Wang Jialei made a presentation respectively on China’s recent developments in political, economic and social areas and China-Latin America relations. The delegation called on Spanish and Portuguese Faculty of Beijing Foreign Studies University and held a discussion with young teachers and students on China-Latin America relations. In Henan, Mr. Li Zhen, Deputy Director of Henan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office met with the delegation. The delegation visited Nanjie Village to investigate on the building of the socialist new countryside. It also visited Shineway Group, Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co. Ltd., Zhongdamen Bonded Commodity O2O Shopping Center and explored the possibilities of bilateral cooperation. In Chongqing, Mr. Wang Guangcheng, Assistant Director of Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office met with the delegation. The delegation visited Chongqing Municipal Planning Exhibition Hall, Liangjiang New Area Planning Exhibition Hall and the Three Gorges Museum to learn about economic and social development in Chongqing and future development plan. It made a field study on urbanization in Dazu District and discussed with relevant persons in charge on how to facilitate new-type urbanization.

“China made marvelous achievements”

The delegation members spoke highly of the tremendous achievements China had made, saying that China’s mode and experience were worth learning. Mr. Gustavo Pacheco said that although China thought it had solved some “easy” problems through reform in the past 30 years before it had entered a crucial period with greater challenges, it would have been more difficult for Latin American countries to fix those “easy” problems. Hence he extended congratulations on China’s achievements. Mrs. Carmelina Rodriguez, adviser to the Secretary-general of the Organization for the Solidarity of the Peoples in Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL) said that she was most impressed by China’s  “marvelous” achievements. Mr. Santiago  Feliu, senior journalist of the “Tricontinental Magazine” of OSPAAAL said he had high expectations on this visit and did some “homework” in advance. After he arrived in China, he found what he saw was so different from what he had learned about China through media. He hoped that China would make new accomplishments continuously and demonstrate to the world with its successes that socialism with Chinese characteristics had great vitality. Mrs. Yolanda Delfin, expert of the China-Mexico Research Center under the Economics Faculty of Mexico National Autonomy University pointed out China was very modest in claiming itself as a developing country and Mexico was willing to learn more about China’s development model and experience. Mr. David Pacheco Villar, lawyer of the National Audit Office of Peru said that the young generation of Peru only knew the US development model. He would tell them after he returned that there was the Chinese model apart from the US model. Prof. Aldo Panfichi, a Peruvian sociologist said although China faced many challenges and risks, no one could impede China from marching forward.

“Latin America and China are only separated by some seawater”

The delegation gave positive comments on Latin America-China relations and expressed great expectations on future cooperation. Mr. Pacheco said “Latin America and China are only separated by some seawater”. He thought China was a country with long history and brilliant culture while Latin America also had ancient civilizations which had great impact on human history. Both sides were at the similar stage of development and faced with common tasks and challenges. Due to these similarities, bilateral relations had developed at a rapid pace in recent years and the importance for mutual cooperation was rising constantly. Mrs. Rodriguez said with similar ideology, social system and traditional friendly relations, Cuba and China should further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the current circumstances. OSPAAAL had many foreign  organizations as its council members, more than half of which were from Latin America. It was willing to help CAFIU establish ties and conduct exchanges with Latin American countries. She hoped that CAFIU would send delegations to visit Latin America besides inviting Latin American delegations to visit China so as to learn about how the people in Latin America think about China. She also hoped that OSPAAAL and CAFIU could play a bigger role in promoting people-to-people exchanges and friendship between Cuba and China.

 

Mr. Javier Tarulla, Secretary-general of the Contemporary Foundation of Argentina remarked that Latin America-China relations had witnessed fast development in the last few years. The top-level leaders exchanged visits frequently and bilateral relations were best than ever. Latin American countries regarded China as an important partner and there were unprecedented opportunities for the development of bilateral relations and large potential to boost cooperation in various fields. He believed that the bilateral relations enjoyed brighter prospects after President Christina and President Xi Jinping exchanged visits and updated bilateral relations to the level of the comprehensive strategic partnership. Mr. Tarulla thought that strong complementarity between Argentina and China was beneficial to economic cooperation of the two countries. He suggested that China attach importance to balance of trade and realize win-win cooperation and mutual benefit in real sense, for this would ensure sound development of bilateral cooperation.

Mr. Tarulla praised the visit themed upon “Knowing about China” as a good form of exchange, as the delegation had acquired a great deal of information about China in many respects and achieved fruitful results. He stressed that the Contemporary Foundation was an old friend of Chinese people and was willing to deepen cooperation with CAFIU.

 

Mr. Obregon Ruiz, an economic policy adviser to the Foundation for the Political and Cultural Affairs of Mexico hoped to establish long-term cooperative ties with CAFIU in the future. As a think tank for the Mexican Senate, the Foundation for the Political and Cultural Affairs was interested in China’s economic policy, relevant laws and regulations as well as China’s experience in facilitating new-type urbanization and hoped to strengthen mutual exchanges. Mr. Federico Cortes, director of the international academic exchange department of the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE), one of the most famous think tanks of Mexico, said that although he had been to many countries in America and Europe, this visit had left him with the deepest impression. He would begin to learn Chinese back home so as to have more convenience to conduct exchanges with China. He hoped to facilitate the academic exchanges between CIDE and Chinese research institutes and invite Chinese scholars to do research in CIDE.