On October 23, 2026, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs Qiu Xiaoqi attended upon invitation the opening ceremony of the Fourth China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Local Government Cooperation Forum in Yulin, Shaanxi Province, and delivered remarks.

Qiu stated that local cooperation is an important component of China-LAC relations and an important bond for promoting people-to-people connectivity between the two sides. As the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century, with various risks and challenges intertwined, both China and LAC are at a critical stage of transformation and upgrading, a crucial period of high-quality development, and an opportune time for opening up. There is a need to tap new potential, open up new avenues and shape new strengths. At the local level, China and LAC can play a greater role in this historical process. The two sides should adhere to mutual trust as the foundation, practical action as the priority and people-to-people ties as the bridge, so as to contribute to the building of the China-LAC community with a shared future, write more stories of China-LAC friendship and bear more fruits of China-LAC cooperation.

The China-LAC Local Government Cooperation Forum is an important specialized sub-forum under the framework of the China-CELAC Forum, hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The theme of this year’s forum is “Deepening Local Cooperation and Sharing Green Development.” More than 200 people attended, including representatives of local governments and enterprises from 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including Beijing and Shaanxi, as well as officials of local governments, diplomatic envoys in China and representatives of international organizations from 30 provinces, states and cities in 15 countries, including Argentina, the Bahamas and Brazil.