Beijing, 8 January 2015

Dear Colleagues from Latin America and the Caribbean,
Representatives of International and Regional Organizations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

A few days into 2015, we are gathering here with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) friends who have traveled long distances to Beijing for the development of the China-CELAC Forum and the growth of China-LAC partnership of comprehensive cooperation. On behalf of the Forum's preparatory committee on the Chinese side and the Chinese Foreign Ministry, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all.

This morning, the first ministerial meeting of the Forum was opened in grand style. We were honored to have the presence of President Xi Jinping, President Solis, President Correa, President Maduro and President Christie. President Xi gave a speech which provides important guidance to us in making this meeting a success.

This afternoon and tomorrow morning, we will have sincere and thorough discussions under the theme of "New Platform, New Starting Point, New Opportunity－Joint Efforts to Promote China-Latin America and the Caribbean Partnership of Comprehensive Cooperation" in a spirit of win-win cooperation, openness and inclusiveness. We will do our best to build political will and deliver tangible results. I am sure that with our joint efforts, the meeting will fulfill all its tasks and achieve a great success.

To enable a productive discussion, I would like to make three points.

First, let me put the China-CELAC Forum in context. The Forum was not established by chance, but rather it was born out of the ever closer interactions between us and our mutual desire to advance our common interests. The geographical distance between China and LAC countries has not stopped us from having a long history of exchanges. Our Chinese ancestors had sailed across the Pacific to trade products and advanced production techniques with the locals. These historical exchanges contributed to the progress of human civilization. Then in our respective struggles to liberate our nations, uphold sovereignty and pursue modernization, our peoples showed solidarity and support for each other, thus forging a profound friendship.

Since the turn of the century, China and LAC countries, focusing on common development, have strengthened interactions and multi-faceted cooperation, maintained close coordination and cooperation in international affairs, stood together in countering the global financial crisis and grown our relations by leaps and bounds. With ever broader common interests, we have created better conditions and a solid foundation for establishing a new model for China-LAC relations.

As global economic integration gathers pace and regional integration and trans-regional cooperation thrive, China and LAC countries have shown a stronger desire to expand our win-win cooperation into broader areas. In December 2011, CELAC, a regional organization that covers all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, came into being, offering an important opportunity for China to carry out cooperation and establish a new platform with LAC countries as a group.

Since 2013, thanks to the personal attention and support of Chinese and LAC leaders, our discussions on China-LAC cooperation have been accelerated. In particular, in January 2014, CELAC adopted a Special Declaration on the Establishment of the China-CELAC Forum at a summit held in Cuba, which expressed the positive attitude of LAC countries. Last July, during his visit to the region, President Xi had a historic meeting with LAC leaders in Brasilia. They decided to launch the China-CELAC Forum and hold its first ministerial meeting as soon as possible. So at the highest political level, our leaders have expressed their agreement to advance China-LAC cooperation, paving the way for our efforts to create a new platform for such cooperation.

Second, how to ensure the success of the China-CELAC Forum, a new platform for overall cooperation?

Today, at the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, we witness the translation of the vision for China-CELAC overall cooperation into reality, which is an important step forward in implementing the consensus of our leaders. We are fully aware of the huge responsibility on our shoulders.

In his address this morning, President Xi proposed, on behalf of the Chinese government, the guiding principles on how to ensure the success of the China-CELAC Forum from a strategic and long-term perspective. He unequivocally pointed out that we need to, first of all, commit ourselves to the cooperation principle of acting as equal partners, the principle underpinning China's cooperation with all countries. His words won a warm round of applause from the audience. Second, we need to adhere to the goal of win-win cooperation. Third, we need to pursue cooperation in flexible and pragmatic ways. Fourth, we need to ensure open and inclusive cooperation. These four principles are all very important as they represent the common aspiration of both sides. Here I would like to share with you some of my observations on the development of China-CELAC Forum.

Making sound top-level planning is of primary importance. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "Preparedness ensures success and unpreparedness spells failure." If we compare the China-CELAC Forum to a tall building, drawing the blueprint is the first step of its construction process. Through in-depth communication and frequent consultations in the spirit of mutual respect and equality, our two sides have jointly drafted and will adopt three outcome documents, namely, the Beijing Declaration of the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, the China-Latin American and Caribbean Countries Cooperation Plan (2015-2019) and the Institutional Arrangements and Operating Rules of China-CELAC Forum. These documents, serving as policy bases, action plans and institutional guarantees, is of great importance for the Forum's smooth development in the future.

Promoting mutually beneficial cooperation is the central task. China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, with different national conditions and unique advantages in development, have a lot to offer each other, hence enjoying great potential for cooperation. As long as we bring into full play our respective advantages and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in an extensive way, the Forum will be able to deliver tangible results and enjoy inexhaustible dynamism. The China-Latin American and Caribbean Countries Cooperation Plan (2015-2019) that we have jointly formulated is a remarkable document, as it covers 13 priority areas of cooperation, ranging from policy and security to trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, energy and resources, industry, agriculture, scientific and technological innovation and people-to-people exchanges. It has covered various sectors related to national development and people's wellbeing, is in line with our national conditions, and demonstrates the spirit of win-win cooperation. The Cooperation Plan, when turned into reality, will deepen and broaden our cooperation as never before.

Solid follow-up implementation is important guarantee. It is often said that to get a job done, it is most important to ensure that the plan is thoroughly implemented. The development of the China-CELAC Forum is a long-term and strategic mission. We need to set our eyes on the future, make solid and incremental progress and ensure sustainable and sound development of cooperation within the framework of the Forum. On the other hand, we must have a sense of urgency and lose no time in identifying and creating a number of specific cooperation projects in the afore-mentioned 13 priority areas through close communication and consultation, so as to achieve early harvest and bring tangible benefits of the Forum to our people at an early date.

By establishing the Chinese Committee of the Follow-up Actions of the China-CELAC Forum and its Secretariat, China will enhance its coordination with the Presidency country and other members of CELAC to facilitate the development of the Forum. We will continue to strengthen the Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China and the CELAC "Quartet" and ensure the success of existing forums for agricultural ministers, young political leaders, local governments cooperation and think-tanks as well as the China-LAC Business Summit. China proposes to establish, as soon as possible, forums on infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, economy, industrial development and cooperation, scientific and technologic innovation and social policies with a view to advancing the mutually beneficial cooperation in these areas. We hope to receive active support from CELAC members on the proposal.

Latin America and the Caribbean, which is among the first to embark on regional integration process, has a wealth of experience on inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation. Over the years, China, on its part, has also carried out fruitful overall cooperation in various forms with other developing regions. Our two sides may well share experience, apply it to the development of the Forum and develop a model of overall cooperation that both suits our conditions and meets our needs.

Third, what are the goals for the China-CELAC Forum?

China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, both as developing countries and emerging economies, are in the similar development stages and have similar development tasks. By taking this meeting as an important opportunity, we will advance the overall cooperation with focus on China-CELAC Forum and build a new, five-dimensional relationship, which not only serves the fundamental interests of both sides, but will also set a new model for the South-South cooperation. We will strive to achieve the following goals through the development of the Forum:

First, deepen political trust and be good partners of shared goals. Our two sides need to strengthen high-level exchange of visits and exchanges at all the other levels and actively share governance experience. We should firmly support each other in pursuing a path suited to our respective national conditions and render each other understanding and support on major issues that concern our respective core interests such as state sovereignty, territorial integrity, stability, development and unity for strength.

Second, expand win-win cooperation and be good partners for common development. Our two sides need to make solid progress in implementing the "1+3+6" new framework for China-CELAC practical cooperation and the China-Latin American and Caribbean Countries Cooperation Plan (2015-2019). By focusing on the priority areas identified by both sides, leveraging our complementary strengths and tapping the potential for cooperation, China and CELAC members will be able to bring into alignment our strategies and enhance the mutually beneficial cooperation featuring openness, diversity and inter-connected interests.

Third, enhance people-to-people exchange and be good partners of mutual learning. Under the framework of the Forum, our two sides need to promote exchange and cooperation programs between legislatures, political parties, localities and youth as well as in culture, education, sports, media and tourism and make the Year of Cultural Exchanges in 2016 a success. In this way, we will be able to deepen the friendship between our peoples and enhance popular support for the growth of China-Latin American and Caribbean relations.

Fourth, forge closer international coordination and be good partners of mutual assistance. At the UN, WTO, G20, APEC and other international organizations and multilateral mechanisms, we need to step up coordination and collaboration on major international and regional issues such as global governance, sustainable development and climate change, and uphold the common interests of China, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as other developing countries.

Fifth, establish a cooperation network and be good partners of common progress. In conducting cooperation, we need to be open, inclusive, flexible and practical and accommodate the interests and concerns of all relevant sides. By combining the overall cooperation with bilateral cooperation and the China-CELAC Forum with other dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between China and other regional organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean, we will gradually put in place a multi-tiered, all-dimensional and balanced cooperation framework which will create multiple sources of power for the giant ship of China-Latin American and Caribbean relations to sail forward.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

The world is experiencing profound and complex changes, and international architecture is undergoing in-depth adjustments. Peace and development remain the underlying trend of our times, and new opportunities and challenges keep emerging. Whoever embraces the trend of the times and seizes the opportunities for cooperation will be able to win the future. The launch of this Forum and China-CELAC overall cooperation are the strategic choices we have made by building on the current achievements and aiming at the long-term goals.

Both China and Latin America and the Caribbean are at a critical stage of development. As President Xi Jinping pointed out in his address at the opening ceremony of the meeting, the Chinese dream of great national renewal is closely connected with the dream of people in Latin America and the Caribbean for solidarity, collaboration, development and revitalization. It is high time for both sides to pursue and realize our dreams.

The Chinese government values its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean and is committed to building a China-Latin American and Caribbean community of shared destiny. While keeping our eyes on the long-term goals, we need to make solid progress in advancing the China-CELAC Forum and make concerted efforts in playing the symphony of China-CELAC partnership of comprehensive cooperation, so as to make greater contribution to the establishment of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and to peace, development and prosperity of Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the world at large.

Thank you.