On September 21, 2017 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a group meeting with the Quartet of Foreign Ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on the sidelines of his attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Wang Yi expressed that China, Latin American and Caribbean countries are developing countries with similar development status, enjoying strong economic complementarities, serving as important development opportunities to each other and sharing broad common interests. The new conception of establishing a community of common destiny for China and Latin America put forward by President Xi Jinping leads China-CELAC relations entering into a new stage. Latin America and the Caribbean region locate the natural extension of the Maritime Silk Road in history; in the contemporary time, they are important participants of the building of the "Belt and Road". China welcomes more Latin American and Caribbean countries to participate in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", and stands ready to, together with the CELAC, facilitate connectivity and the integration of development strategies and promote China-CELAC comprehensive cooperative partnership for new progresses.

Wang Yi pointed out that in the early 2015, the first ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was held successfully. Over the two years, under the concerted efforts of both sides, China-CELAC Forum was promoted for important outcomes. China is willing to make joint efforts with the CELAC to promote the second ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum to be held in January, 2018 in Chile for success.

Foreign Ministers attending the meeting expressed that the CELAC appreciates China for playing a leading role in international affairs, and thanked China for helping with Latin American and Caribbean countries with their development, especially for its attention and support to small and medium-sized countries. The CELAC is willing to actively participate in the building of the "Belt and Road", enhance practical cooperation with China in infrastructure construction, economy, trade, energy resource, science, technology, and other fields and push forward CELAC-China relations for constant development. CELAC-China Forum has made significant progress since its establishment, and the CELAC stands ready to closely collaborate with China to jointly promote the second ministerial meeting of the CELAC-China Forum for positive outcomes.