With the aim of deepening productive integration, technological cooperation and inclusive bi-regional growth, the III Development Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean with China: economic and trade connectivity for enhanced cooperation and shared social prosperity opened on Tuesday.

The opening session was attended by senior regional and international officials, including the Director-General of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (ILAS-CASS), Chai Yu; the Special Representative of the People’s Republic of China for Latin American Affairs, QIU Xiaoqi; the Secretary-General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Ambassador Noemí Espinoza Madrid; the Chief Economist of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Máximo Torero; and representatives of the Henan Provincial Government and the Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government.

During his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), Ambassador Lesly David, emphasised that the relationship between China and the region has taken on a strategic character that requires further development: “It is not just a matter of trading more, but of trading better.”

In this regard, he stressed that regional connectivity must go beyond physical infrastructure and integrate logistics, ports, energy, digital transformation, financing and innovation.

“The success of the relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and China should not be measured solely by the volume of our trade, but by the extent to which we contribute to development, productive integration, innovation and shared social prosperity,” the Permanent Secretary stated.

The III Forum has established itself as a bridge of understanding and a technical platform aimed at linking the strategic resources of Latin America and the Caribbean with China’s technological, financial and logistical capabilities. In this context, SELA reaffirmed its fundamental role as a facilitator among governments, integration mechanisms, financial institutions, academia and the productive sector, with a view to transforming opportunities for cooperation into concrete initiatives with social and economic impact.

During the first session of the forum, five thematic units were held with the participation of leading international speakers:

Unit I – Digital empowerment and targeted poverty alleviation: The integration of digital technologies into public policies for poverty reduction was discussed. Presentations were delivered by Edgar Velásquez, Digitalisation and Infrastructure Analyst at SELA; Sandra Salamanca, Consultant at CAF’s Global Partnerships Directorate; QU Yongyi, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Industrial Economics of CASS; SU Wenjie, Chair of the Zhengzhou Digital Intelligence Technology Group; and JIAO Dian, Deputy Director-General of the International Poverty Reduction Centre in China (IPRCC).

Unit II – Addressing population ageing and promoting inclusive growth: A session dedicated to institutional responses to demographic change. Speakers included Sergio Rivero, Economic Affairs Officer at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Franklin Molina, Director-General of Social Development, Cooperation and Intellectual Property at the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (CAN); and SUN Yuantai, Dean of the School of Political Science and Public Administration at Zhengzhou University.

Unit III – Trade in agricultural products and livelihoods: Focusing on the facilitation of agri-food trade and food security. Presentations included those by Máximo Torero, Chief Economist at FAO; WANG Laixi, Professor at the School of Economics and Trade at Henan University of Technology; MA Xiaoyong, Director of the Foreign Cooperation Department at Henan Agricultural Investment Group; Daniel Agramont-Lechín, Associate Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF); and ZHENG Zuting, Senior Economist at the National Food and Strategic Reserves Data Centre.

Unit IV – Clean energy cooperation and technological innovation: A panel discussion focusing on the energy transition and sustainable industrial chains. It featured presentations by Andrés Rebolledo, Executive Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organisation (OLACDE); Franklin Molina, Director-General for Social Development, Cooperation and Intellectual Property at the General Secretariat of CAN; ZHAO Lei, President of International Business at xFusion Digital Technologies; ZHANG Yongsheng, Director-General of the Research Institute for Eco-civilisation at CASS; and WANG Xixi, Director of the New Energy Technology Department at Yutong Bus.

Unit V – Trade logistics and employment generation: A session focused on optimising cross-border corridors and creating employment opportunities for young people and vulnerable groups. Presentations were given by Nayeli Yoval Segura, Chief of Staff at the ACS; Pedro Silva Barros, Researcher at the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA); SI Linsheng, President of Henan University of Economics and Law; JING Limbo, Director-General of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Evaluation Studies (CASSES); WANG Lingjie, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Henan Academy of Social Sciences; and WAN Xin, President of Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Association.

The III Development Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean with China will continue on Wednesday for its second day with Unit VI, dedicated to cultural and educational exchanges and think tank cooperation, and Unit VII, comprising the Young Scholars’ Forum – a platform designed for mutual learning and the development of young leaders who will drive practical cooperation between China and the region – concluding with the Official Closing Ceremony.

As part of the implementation of the Work Programme for 2026–2029, SELA organised the third edition of this Forum as a platform for high-level dialogue to promote the training of public officials in strategic areas; to generate joint investment initiatives in the sectors of innovation and sustainable agriculture; and to promote trade facilitation in order to strengthen regional competitiveness.

SELA reaffirms its institutional commitment to steering bi-regional dialogue towards the identification of concrete mechanisms that channel international cooperation and investment towards high value-added sectors, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean.