South American Economics/China-Latin American Relations Thread
- Thread starter Strangelove
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I'm listening to a podcast on China and Latin America right now. Hadn't realized just how much Chile's export sectors go to China. I see it at over 30% which is just crazy high for a country that far away from China. They have a FTA with China. And they are not just exporting copper, but also wine and cherry. Since FTA, many part of their economy has benefited from this export relationship. That's why Ecuador has been so eager to reach a FTA with China. It's also why Uruguay is looking for FTA with China.
I think the problem is that people in America have now become too focused on the importance of Lithium. Lithium is only one of the metals used in Lithium ion batteries.
copper, iron, phosphate and plenty of other metals are needed also. sodium ion batteries don't even need lithium
I think the problem is that people in America have now become too focused on the importance of Lithium. Lithium is only one of the metals used in Lithium ion batteries.
copper, iron, phosphate and plenty of other metals are needed also. sodium ion batteries don't even need lithium
China, Nicaragua step up negotiations on free trade agreement
By ZHAO JIA | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-02-11 22:32
China and Nicaragua agreed, on Saturday, to step up negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the development of bilateral ties.
The pledge was made when Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held talks with Laureano Ortega, adviser to the Nicaraguan president and Nicaragua's coordinator for cooperation with China, in Beijing.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said China and Nicaragua have witnessed rapid advancement of cooperation in various areas since the resumption of diplomatic relations.
Facts prove that the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Nicaragua is a right decision which will offer strong incentive to the overall development of bilateral relations, Wang said.
While calling for common development of the two countries, Wang said China is willing to deepen the experience-sharing on state governance and between political parties, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges with Nicaragua.
China and Nicaragua should accelerate the negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement to promote respective development by deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, Wang noted.
While thanking Nicaragua for their firm support to China in safeguarding its core interests, Wang said China will also speak up for Nicaragua on the international stage and urged the two countries to bolster strategic coordination in both regional and international affairs.
China is willing to work with Nicaragua to uphold basic norms governing international relations, particularly the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs, Wang said, adding that China hopes Nicaragua can play a positive role in promoting solidarity and cooperation between China and Latin American countries.
While appreciating China's strong support for his country's fight against the pandemic, and economic and social development, Laureano said Nicaragua firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as opposing external interference.
Nicaragua is willing to deepen inter-party exchanges, mutually beneficial cooperation, and advance negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement with China, he said as he also welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest and start business in Nicaragua.
Laureano also said Nicaragua supports China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative, adding the country is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in multilateral affairs.
“Our hope is to start building CBERS-6 in the coming months. This is essential to strengthen our Amazon monitoring agencies and carry out climate studies,” Brazilian minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Luciana Santos told Sputnik News. CBERS is a technological cooperation program between China and Brazil which has already produced four satellites, the last one being launched in 2019, and a fifth is under construction.
Brazil could increase exports to China by 76.2% by the year 2030, rising from the current USD 58.9 billion (annual average 2017-2020) to USD 103.4 billion, according to a new study.
The study by the Brazil-China Business Council (CEBC), “Exports from Brazilian States to China: Current Scenario and Prospects for Diversification”, says that for the export boost it is necessary to diversify the export basket.
The document includes a list of 216 products with the potential to increase sales in the coming years in all regions of the country.
The study reveals that, from 2012 to 2021, Brazilian exports to the Asian country grew five times more than exports (in values) to the world. It was the highest growth among all relevant partners in Brazil.
All Brazilian regions had growth in exports to the Chinese market above the average of total exports in the period, with China being the main destination for shipments from 19 of the 27 Brazilian states in the period. In 21 of them, there was an increase in exports to the Chinese market above the expansion of sales to the world.
The states with the most significant average growth were: Rondônia (39.6%), Piauí (30.1%), Tocantins (26.2%), Amazonas (21.3%) and Acre (19.8%). For 22 federative units, China’s participation as an export destination increased in the analyzed period.
As the following chart shows, Brazilian-Chinese bilateral trade has been strengthening year-on-year, increasing by some 11 percent in 2022 with a total trade increase of $157.5 billion, according to the UN’s Comtrade base.
Another clear trend is that Brazil exports more to China than it imports from it - a rarity, as China, the globe’s manufacturing giant, is usually a greater exporter. China and India are both considered the major manufacturing countries of the BRICS, whereas Brazil and Russia are generally considered to be exporters of raw materials. Exporting manufactured goods usually makes more money than exporting raw materials and so this contrast is particularly surprising. One possible reason for Brazil's surplus could be that it exports both agricultural products (animal feed) and fossil fuels (iron ore, oil) to China.
According to , Brazil’s top export to China was soy (36 percent of total exports) in 2022, followed by iron ore (20 percent) and oil (18 percent). The exportation profile changed slightly in January and February 2023, with oil leading at 23 percent, followed by soy (22 percent) and iron ore (21 percent). Meanwhile, the OEC that the main products that China exported to Brazil as of 2021 were semiconductor devices, office machine parts and telephones.
China is willing to share development opportunity with Uruguay in its path of deepening reforms, expanding opening: Han Zheng
By Global Times Published: Apr 18, 2023 08:02 PM
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets visiting Foreign Minister of Uruguay Francisco Bustillo Bonasso in Beijing. Photo：Ministry of Foreign Affairs
China is willing to share the development opportunity with Uruguay as China will continue to deepen reforms, expand opening and advance Chinese modernization, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng told visiting Foreign Minister of Uruguay Francisco Bustillo Bonasso in Beijing on Tuesday.
The two countries should jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and take the opportunity of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to deepen political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, strengthen strategic coordination, renew the traditional friendship between the two countries and push China-Uruguay strategic partnership to a new level, Han noted.
Han highlighted that China will continue to deepen reforms, expand opening and advance Chinese modernization.
China is willing to share development opportunities with Uruguay, mutually support each other in independently exploring modernization paths, and work together for prosperity and strength, Han said in a meeting with Bustillo.
Bustillo said Uruguay firmly adheres to the one-China principle and deeply admires China’s domestic and foreign policies. Uruguay looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in various fields and jointly creating a better future for the two countries and two peoples.
On the same day, Bustillo also met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
China-Uruguay ties have become a model for win-win cooperation among countries of different sizes and national conditions, and China is willing to deepen political trust, practical cooperation and multilateral coordination with Uruguay, Qin said.
Qin made the remarks during a meeting with Foreign Minister of Uruguay Francisco Bustillo Bonasso who is paying a visit to China.
Besides increasing mutual trust and communications, the two countries are willing to continue firmly support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, promote China-Latin America cooperation and take China- Uruguay strategic partnership to a new level, Qin noted.
Bustillo agreed that fruitful achievements within bilateral relations have been achieved during the past 35 years, despite the physical distance between the countries. Uruguay attaches great importance to Uruguay-China relations and is expected to further work closely with China in terms of economic field and other fields.
The foreign minister of Uruguay spoke highly of the three initiatives brought by Chinese leader, called them “important achievement on world peace and human development.”
Uruguay is willing to join hands with China, adhering to multilateralism, promote civilized conversation and world peace and prosperity on the basis of mutual understanding and respect. Uruguay will continue to play a positive role in prompting Uruguay-China relations, Bustillo told Qin during their meeting.
All brought to you by the Tusan, Peruvians of Chinese descent.
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The deal has gone through.
Earlier this month, Beijing’s state-owned China Southern Power Grid announced the acquisition of nearly $3 billion in assets of Peru’s electric power grid, control of at least 70% of Peru’s electric distribution market.
China can use its ownership of critical infrastructure to secure stable and favorable relations with Peru.
Right now, it looks like the South-American Leftists are facing serious challenges at home.
- In Paraguay, the Colorado Party, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, was recently re-elected.
- In Chile the right controls the constituent assembly to draft the new Constitution.
- Presidents Lula and Petro cannot rely on majorities in their respective legislative chambers.
- Colombia’s largest paramilitary group, the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (ACG), which this week judges of Colombia’s war crimes tribunal.
- In Argentina, the libertarian and climate change-denier Javier Milei could be the new president in November. He has talked about eliminating the central bank and fully dollarizing Argentina’s economy. (Which would end Argentina participation in BRICS and dedollarization for another 4 years)
Any more info on the stance of the right wing party in Chile? I did a quick internet search and couldn't find anything that makes them explicitly anti-China, instead I found the past relations to be cordial.