On October 6, 2016 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was paying an official visit to Bolivia, told the press in La Paz that despite different national conditions and the long geographical distance, China and Bolivia have always treated each other with mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual support and mutual trust, serving as a model of solidarity, mutual assistance, equality and mutual benefit between big and small countries. It is believed that Bolivia will continue to provide valuable support to China on issues involving its core interests and major concerns. China will staunchly support Bolivia in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests. China always adheres to the principle that every nation, large or small, should be equal, which is a consistent diplomatic policy of the Chinese government and a norm governing international relations that has been written in the UN Charter and should be universally followed by all countries. We are satisfied with the current situation of China-Bolivia relations and harbor full confidence in the bright prospects of China-Bolivia cooperation.

Like any other country or people in the world, Bolivia has the right of development and the Bolivian people are entitled to enjoy better life. China firmly supports the Bolivian government and people in exploring a development path suitable to their own national conditions and will continue to provide support and assistance within its capacity for Bolivia’s development, so as to help Bolivia accelerate industrialization and improve its self-development capabilities. Respecting every country’s sovereignty and their peoples’ independent choices, China never attaches any political conditions in cooperation and never interferes in other countries’ internal affairs. As a developing country, China’s assistance is limited but its sincerity and selflessness are always there. We hope that Bolivia could achieve greater progress in development and embrace better prospects like the soaring “Eagle of the Andes”.

Bolivia is an important country in Latin America and China-Bolivia cooperation is a microcosm of China-Latin America cooperation. The establishment of the Forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) two years ago opened up a new chapter of China-Latin America overall cooperation. Under the joint guidance of President Xi Jinping and leaders of Latin American countries, China-Latin America overall cooperation had a good start. We are willing to join hands with Latin American countries to strengthen the construction of China-CELAC Forum, push forward the organic combination and mutual progress as well as reinforcement of bilateral relations and overall cooperation, and continuously push forward China-Latin America comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development.