8 January 2015

Peony Hall, Fanghua Villa, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

My dear friends from afar,

I am happy that we gather here to celebrate the launch of the China-CELAC Forum. Some people may ask why China wants to set up a forum with Latin American and Caribbean countries, which are so far away. Let me answer this question by quoting what the Bolivian foreign minister said this afternoon: "All human beings are brothers and sisters. From the perspective of the universe, we are actually not so far away from one another. We belong to the same family, and our destinies are entwined."

We care about each other because we are brothers and sisters.

We help each other because we are all developing countries. Our cooperation is South-South cooperation and cooperation between friends. We abide by the principles of equality and mutual benefit and pursue win-win cooperation and common development.

As equal members of the international community, we need to support each other. In many ways, our world is still not fair or reasonable. We need to speak with one voice and act in concert to make it a more harmonious and peaceful place.

China and the countries you represent share many common ideals and pursuits. We should forge greater solidarity to advance and uphold our common interests.

The great land of Latin America and the Caribbean, with its time-honored history, celebrated cultures, hardworking people and rich resources, enjoys a broad vista for development.

Stories of heroic figures, like Simon Bolivar, Jose de San Martin and Jose Marti, are still being told on the Latin American continent even today. The spirit of Latin America, a spirit of perseverance, has been passed from generation to generation.

Like you, the Chinese people have a tradition of seeking constant progress. That is because we and the people in Latin American and Carribean countries share similar historical experiences and common development agenda.

Our countries have a valuable friendship that goes back a long way. Wherever we go in Latin America and the Carribean, we feel true friendship towards China. People from the two sides should continue to strengthen mutual understanding, trust and cooperation.

This hall we are at is named after peony, a flower that symbolizes prosperity in Chinese culture. And prosperity is exactly what we expect from the cooperation between us. I look forward to working with my CELAC colleagues to take this ministerial meeting as a new starting point, for making the Forum a successful and productive mechanism and for opening up a brighter future for our partnership of comprehensive cooperation!