June 6th, 2022
"I have said that Colombia has a commercial relation with China, a trade relationship, as the U.S. has a trade relationship with China. And we have seen Chinese corporations come to Colombia to participate in infrastructure bids... And many people ask me, for example, if I consider that a threat, I don't consider that as a threat"
- Colombian President Ivan Duque
Good morning. Welcome to another edition of the China-Latin America & Caribbean Dispatch. On deck this week: meetings in Argentina, a new Cuban-Chinese vaccine, Uruguay approves a defense pact, a flight between Mexico and China, and China Railway runs into trouble in Peru.
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POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
BUENOS AIRES - The Argentine Chief of Staff, Juan Mazur, met with the Chinese ambassador, Zou Xiaoli, last week to discuss bilateral relations in mining, agriculture, science, technology, innovation, biotech, as well as international issues. (Escenario Mundial)
The Chief of Staff reportedly thanked the Ambassador for China's "support for our Government's policies to encourage economic development." (Ambito)
Other News:
- NEW IN TOWN - The first Chinese Ambassador to Nicaragua, Chen Xi, arrived last week in Managua after most recently serving as ambassador to Cuba. (Articulo 66)
- SCIENCE COOPERATION - The Chinese Embassy in the Dominican Republic co-hosted a seminar with the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic on "The Development of Sciences and Technologies in China." (Proceso)
- ENERGIZING DEVELOPMENTS - The Cuban ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment received a donation of 5,000 solar panels and 25,000 LED lights from China for those living in mountainous, rural areas. (PV Magazine)
- SUMMIT SOLIDARITY - The Cuban Ambassador to China thanked Beijing's government for supporting his country due to its exclusion from the upcoming Summit of the Americas. (Prensa Latina)
- CONFUCIAN CLASSROOMS - Dominica now has its first Confucius Center at Dominica State College, making it the 8th Confucian classroom in the Caribbean. (Dominica News Online)
- TRUE COMRADES - In recent remarks, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro praised his country's relationship with the PRC as "tight and powerful", saying that "If it had not been for China, it would have been impossible to face the pandemic." (Diario Vea)
- DEFENSE BUDDIES - A Uruguayan Senate Committee unanimously approved the text of a 2019 defense cooperation agreement with China to "exchange and cooperation in the areas of research and acquisition of defense goods and services and logistical support, international peacekeeping operations [and] the promotion of combined exercises and training." (La Diaria)
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FINANCE, TRADE & TECHNOLOGY
MEXICO CITY - A direct air cargo route between Zhengzhou and Mexico City opened last week. (Xinhua) (Simple Flying)
It's the first commercial flight between the two countries since December 2019, when there was a direct passenger route between the two countries. There is still no indication whether a new direct passenger route between the two countries will reopen in the near future.
Other News:
- MARKET ENTRY - Chinese car manufacturer Chirey is entering the Mexican market for the first time, with the hopes of opening 40 retailers and selling 7,000 vehicles this year. (Informador)
- A MILKY MARKET ENTRY - Chinese dairy firm Yili Group is the new sponsor of the Argentine Football Association in China, while the Argentine Ministry of Sports and Tourism signed an MOU with a city in Shaanxi to found the first Chinese-Argentine Football Training Academy. (Cronista)
- VACCINE INVENTION - Chinese and Cuban scientists jointly filed for a patent for a new pan-coronavirus vaccine that they claim was the successful result of collaboration between their two countries. (Telesur)
- THEY'RE BAAAACK - A flotilla of mostly Chinese fishing ships were seen outside of Ecuador's EEZ off the Galápagos Islands, leading to a virtual conference on June 2 when the Chinese authorities promised to "maintain strict control over its ships," while the Chilean navy has been monitoring Chinese fishing ships off its coast in recent weeks as well (Ecuador - El Comercio) (Chile - InfoDefensa)
- WHITE GOLD - Ganfeng Lithium inaugurated the start of its construction on a new $600 million lithium processing plant in La Salta, Argentina. (El Economista)
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INVESTMENT &
INFRASTRUCTURE
LIMA - An investigation into a highway construction project by China Railway in Peru found that the company had abandoned its construction work, leading to large social and environmental issues. (Caretas)
China Railway had previously been found to be operating in a negligent manner regarding pollution and the local population, and had been levied a serious fine. However, the company still has not paid the fine to rectify the issue.
Other News:
- CHEC-ING IN - A Jamaican official in the economic ministry testified that China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) will be re-evaluating the work of subcontractors on the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project for underdelivering on their commitments. (JIS)
- NOT FINE FINANCE - China Railway, despite having committed to build the $700 million Amaila Falls Hydropower project, has told the Guyanese government that it is unwilling to operate under a "Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT)" model of financing for the project, and would rather pursue a "Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC)" plus finance model. (Loop News) (Demerara Waves)
- WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE - A fire broke out at the Las Bambas mine last week as clashes between law enforcement and the local community continued into another month over the Chinese-owned and operated mine in Peru. (Infobae)
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TAIWAN
TEGUCIGALPA - The Taiwanese embassy in Tegucigalpa is encouraging Taiwanese companies to invest in Honduras, especially in its textile market. (Bloomberg Linea)
The news comes as executives from Makalot Industrial, a large integrated service provider that has been working in the fashion industry for over 30 years, visited the country last week to look to expand its investments in Central America. (El Heraldo)
Other News:
- SEE FOOD - A major Taiwanese seafood importer, YEN & Brothers Enterprise, sent representatives to Belize last week to scout out the market and look for ways to enhance trade between the two countries. (Breaking Belize News)
- OFF EAST - Paraguay has a new Ambassador to Taiwan, Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez, who has been charged with "attracting more investment, mainly in the food and renewable energy sector." (Market Data)
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ANALYSIS OF NOTE
- HARSH WORDS - The Global Times ran an article last week about how a MOFA spokesman (unusually) condemned the US for its past in Guatemala, the history of US intervention in Guatemala, and how the two countries have seen some cooperation in the China-CELAC forum despite formal ties. (Global Times)
- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY - Tang Heng, the Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica, wrote an op-ed reflecting on 15 years of "solid" relations between the two countries. (La Republica)
- CENTER OF THE WORLD - Economist Gonzalo Chávez argues that Bolivia needs to embrace Paraguay's ongoing to work to help build a trans-oceanic highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help better open the country up to the Chinese market. (Pagina Siete)
- DON'T YOU, FORGET ABOUT ME - Two Colombian political scientists, Dorian Kantor and Ralf Juan Leiteritz, argued to DW that many Latin American and Caribbean countries' willingness to skip the Summit of the Americas is due to their newfound confidence from their relationship with China. (DW)
- ELASTIC-MAN - Reviewing President Alberto Fernandez's foreign policy, Martin Dinatale argues that the Argentine president has pursued a policy of friendly relations with all countries (from the US and EU to Russia and Cuba and China), and when it comes to the latter, he argues that "Argentina has just shown clear signs of alignment with China, although this may bother the United States." (Cronista)
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CULTURE
ON A DOCK - The Chinese Ambassador to Panama, Wei Qiang, met with three sailors of the Team Visit Sanya, China team in the clipper around the world race after they moored in Panama. (Digital Journal)
The ambassador reportedly remarked to the sailors that "At this moment, the world’s peaceful development faces many challenges. Under such circumstances, it is of unusual significance for Chinese sailors to take part in the global race. It can be said that this is an important effort for mankind to unite as one, meet common challenges and create a better tomorrow and a better world. This will not only make Sanya’s business cards spread far and wide, but also greatly enhance the image of China and Chinese people overseas."
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