Chinese President Xi Jinping declared Tuesday in Beijing, during his opening speech at the IV Meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Ministerial Forum, his support for Latin American and Caribbean countries to “reject external interference”.

After expressing this support, the Chinese head of state urged Celac countries to “follow a path of development in accordance with their national conditions”.

“China supports the nations of the region in defending their national sovereignty and independence”, said the President during his inaugural speech at the IV China-Celac Ministers’ Meeting.

The meeting in Beijing will be attended by foreign ministers and representatives of Celac and, uniquely, by the presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Chile, Gabriel Boric, and Colombia, Gustavo Petro, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the bloc.

According to the Chinese leader, his nation and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are “important members of the global South” and must remain united in the face of growing geopolitical tensions, confrontations between blocs” and ‘growing trends of unilateralism and protectionism’.

“We will work with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to firmly safeguard the international system and speak with one voice in international and regional affairs,” he emphasized.

“Development and revitalization are our inherent rights, and equity and justice are our common aspiration” in the face of ‘geopolitical turbulence and confrontation,’ said Xi, who highlighted the joint work ”to practice true multilateralism, safeguard international equity and justice, and promote the reform of the global governance system to foster multipolarity.”

The leader recalled that trade between China and the region reached US$500 billion for the first time last year and expressed his nation’s desire to continue to foster reciprocal support with Latin America and the Caribbean on issues that impact their “core interests and concerns.”

Accordingly, Xi announced that his nation will grant a line of credit to the region for some US$9.2 billion and will strengthen collaboration on security and law enforcement.

“We must strengthen exchanges in various fields and strengthen communication and coordination on important international and regional issues,” said Xi, who announced that, over the next three years, Beijing will invite 300 leaders of political parties from Celac member countries to visit China in order to ‘exchange experiences on governance’.

After the inauguration, Xi offered lunch to the attendees, followed by the plenary session of the meeting, which will be held behind closed doors and will conclude with the adoption of a joint declaration.

The central issues of the meeting will be “Electrical Interconnection and Renewable Energy” and “Trade Integration”, two topics that correspond to two fundamental goals of China in Latin America: to promote its New Silk Roads project (BRI) and to ensure access to valuable natural resources in the region such as lithium, rare earths, oil or copper.