International gathering at China-CELAC summit focuses on collaborative diplomacy, navigating trade disagreements on a global scale
China-CELAC Partnership Deepens with New Joint Action Plan
The fourth ministerial summit between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has concluded, marking a significant step forward in the growing partnership between the two regions. The summit, which took place in Beijing earlier this month, resulted in the adoption of the China-CELAC Joint Action Plan for Cooperation in Key Areas (2025-2027).
This new action plan includes over 100 proposed cooperation projects spanning infrastructure, clean energy, artificial intelligence (AI), the digital economy, agriculture, and mineral resources. The projects aim to be implemented in the next three years and are expected to contribute to high-quality development and self-sustaining progress for Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.
China has committed to launching five key programs with 20 specific measures aimed at shared development and revitalization among LAC partners. This multilateral framework pivots on expanding emerging sectors such as AI, 5G communications, clean energy, the digital economy, and infrastructure development.
One of the key areas of focus is clean energy. Emphasizing green development and climate governance, which are priorities for both China and small island developing states in the Caribbean, will be a priority in the partnership.
Another area of focus is artificial intelligence and the digital economy. Expanding collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework, with projects aimed at digital infrastructure, 5G, and AI innovation to boost economic modernization in LAC countries, will be a significant part of the partnership.
Large-scale infrastructure projects aligned with poverty reduction, technology transfer, and self-sustainability goals will also continue to be focal points.
The potential future of this partnership appears poised for enhanced cooperation in these areas. Political backing from key LAC leaders, including those from Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, further supports the trajectory toward deeper integration with China despite some regional hesitancy and concerns from Western powers.
Notably, China’s investment commitments often involve regional credit lines and bilateral agreements. For example, the previous 2021-2024 China-CELAC action plan included a US$9 billion regional credit line focused on infrastructure, poverty reduction, and digital transformation, although actual implementation is conducted through bilateral deals (e.g., loans to Nicaragua), not strictly through CELAC mechanisms.
Margaret Myers, managing director of the Johns Hopkins University's Institute for America, China and the Future of Global Affairs, finds it significant that China's credit commitment is lower compared to previous summits, given the US' withdrawal of certain forms of assistance and the slow progress of Europe's Global Gateway programme.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nicaragua signed four agreements with Chinese companies, including a deal with Yutong on electric vehicles.
In summary, the China-CELAC partnership is currently robust and expanding, leveraging comprehensive joint action plans, significant investment commitments, and ambitious programs in clean energy, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy, suggesting a future of increased interregional cooperation centered on shared growth and sustainability.
- The China-CELAC Joint Action Plan for Cooperation in Key Areas (2025-2027) includes over 100 projects focusing on clean energy, a priority for both China and small island developing states in the Caribbean.
- China has committed to five key programs with 20 specific measures aimed at shared development and revitalization among LAC partners, with a significant focus on clean energy.
- Apart from clean energy, artificial intelligence and the digital economy are other key areas of focus where China plans to expand collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework.
- In the field of policy-and-legislation, large-scale infrastructure projects aligned with poverty reduction, technology transfer, and self-sustainability goals will continue to be focal points.
- Beyond business sector collaborations, the future of this partnership seems to indicate enhanced cooperation in the political sphere as well, with political backing from key LAC leaders.
- Finance is an essential aspect of this partnership, with China’s investment commitments often involving regional credit lines and bilateral agreements, such as the US$9 billion regional credit line focused on infrastructure, poverty reduction, and digital transformation.
