The event titled “Synergies between the productive development policies of China and Latin America and the Caribbean”, co-organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Tsinghua University, represented a significant step in the creation of a space for dialogue and cooperation between both regions. Throughout the day, prominent experts from various sectors shared their perspectives on how to promote synergies that allow progress in productive development, highlighting the relevance of taking advantage of the lessons learned from the Chinese experience and adapting them to the national and regional contexts of Latin America. and the Caribbean.
Marco Llinás, director of the Productive and Business Development Division of ECLAC, opened the event by pointing out that China’s industrial development model offers key learnings for the region and stressed that this event is “only the first step towards consolidating dialogue and the integration of productive development policies between both regions.”
His words were joined by those of Chen Taotao, professor at Tsinghua University, who mentioned the importance of this first meeting. “This is the starting point towards achieving synergy between the productive development policies of both regions,” he commented, highlighting the commitment to work on a common agenda.
Lessons from the Chinese industrial model
After the institutional presentations, Zhang Jin, senior researcher and vice president of the International Development Knowledge Center, opened the discussion panel with an exhaustive analysis of the Chinese industrial model. In his speech he highlighted how long-term policies and strategic integration between the state and the market have been fundamental to the success of the Chinese industrial model. That is why “the state’s commitment to planning and joint development with the private sector have driven significant advances in infrastructure, technology and social well-being, although challenges still persist,” he stated.
For his part, Liang Zheng, deputy director of the China Science and Technology Policy Institute, delved into the role of the state in the design and execution of industrial policies, placing special emphasis on the relevance of science and technology as drivers of development. . “Science and technology policies are a crucial element in my country’s industry, and the greatest impetus for these is given by the government itself.” Regarding artificial intelligence, he added: “Countries must find a balance between the risks and opportunities that this technology presents.”
Along the same lines, Yue Zhenxing, professor and director of the Institute of AI Studies at Tsinghua University, emphasized the regulation of new technologies. “We need the law to regulate the risks of artificial intelligence, but at the same time find the balance with the opportunities that this technology can give us.” He concluded his words by stating that “collaboration between China and Latin America in this matter can produce an improvement in both regions.”
Yue Yunxia, deputy director general of the Institute of Latin American Studies, spoke precisely about this collaboration. “Latin America and the Caribbean must bet on high-tech and quality sectors, strengthening their industries through effective collaboration that promotes competitiveness and progress,” he stated.
Perspective of Latin America and the Caribbean
The event also addressed the perspective of Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the relationship with China. Enrique Dussel-Peters, professor at UNAM, who spoke about the role of foreign investment outflow in China, highlighting the achievements of the relationship between China and Latin America in the last 15 years. “There is growing diversification in the countries and sectors that participate, such as renewable energy and advanced manufacturing,” he stated. He stressed the need for the region to take advantage of Chinese experiences to strengthen its value chains.
Fernando Sossdorf, professor at the Institute of International Studies of the University of Chile, highlighted the importance of infrastructure and connectivity in the region. “China has proven to be a successful case in integrating and moving up value chains, something that Latin America and the Caribbean must learn to promote initiatives such as productive clusters and special economic zones.”
Andrés Cárdenas Muñoz, former vice minister of Foreign Trade of Colombia, pointed out China’s strategic role in infrastructure projects and technology transfer. “The entrepreneurial state in China is natural, and if we want to attract investment we must follow its example,” he said, adding that “we need a long-term vision and commitment to Chinese investments.”
Eduardo Gómez Tamayo, director of Network Planning and Construction at CGE, presented the microgrid project in remote areas of Chile as an example of concrete collaboration. “We must convince the authorities that there are sustainable and collaborative ways that can solve problems that often become invisible.”
Towards the end of the meeting, Chen Taotao took the floor again to present some of the success stories of China’s collaboration with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Along these lines, he explained that “After more than a decade in the territory, China has trained local talent, financed projects and taken advantage of regional supplies, contributing to the social development of Latin America.”
Finally, Marco Llinás closed the event with a call to continue the collaboration: “Today we have begun to explore these synergies and we have already seen concrete cases that demonstrate this. The challenge is to scale these cases and maximize the impact of working together. “Count on ECLAC to continue deepening this relationship not only with China, but also with other regions of the world.”
The meeting reaffirms the importance of building a space for continuous dialogue between China and Latin America, projecting a joint work agenda that allows taking advantage of mutual experiences in productive development, innovation and social well-being.
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