Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Latin American leaders today to strengthen ties with the region, in an international context marked by "confrontation and harassment," alluding to the United States (US).
Xi was speaking at the opening ceremony of an important ministerial meeting between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, which was also attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Asian giant has intensified its economic and political cooperation with Latin American countries in recent years in the hope of joining forces despite US President Donald Trump's current tariff measures.
Addressing leaders and foreign ministers of the 33-nation Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Xi praised the long-standing relations between his country and the region.
"Although China and Latin America and the Caribbean are geographically far apart, the two sides have a long history of friendly exchanges. Only in unity and through cooperation can the countries safeguard world peace and stability, as well as promote development and prosperity worldwide," Xi said.
He promised that China would release a loan of 66 billion yuan (8,3 billion euros) to support the development of Latin American and Caribbean countries.
His statement comes a day after Washington and Beijing agreed to drastically reduce, for a period of 90 days, the punitive tariffs they have imposed on each other.
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The decision marks a calm in the trade war between the world's two largest economies, which has caused chaos in global markets.
Under the deal, the US agreed to reduce its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent, while China will reduce its tariffs on imported US goods to ten percent.
"No one can win a tariff war or a trade war. Harassment and hegemony only lead to isolation," Xi said.
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