Xi Jinping’s Trip to Latin America

Xi Jinping’s 10-day trip to Latin America in July 2014 constitutes an important milestone in the development of China-Latin America relations, marking the first major visit to this increasingly important region for a top Chinese leader since the extensive trip taken by Hu Jintao in 2004.  The trip occurred during an increase in various economic difficulties between Beijing and the region after a multi-year period of rapid growth.  Xi’s trip was intended in part to revitalize Beijing’s economic relationship with some key South American states through new trade and investment deals and initiatives.  It also sought to counter the impression in some quarters that the BRICS nations (and China-Brazil relations) were losing their luster.  Finally, it aimed to strengthen political ties with the region by deepening bilateral strategic partnerships, linking China-Latin American ties with the larger global trend toward greater South-South cooperation, and eliciting local support for several key, long-standing Chinese international principles and undertakings, most notably state sovereignty and a UN-based, state-centered structure of internet governance.

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Xi Jinping’s Trip to Latin America