by Noemi Galban, Ovidio Acosta
HAVANA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The most significant result of the recently concluded second ministerial meeting of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum is the joint commitment to shared prosperity and building a peaceful and sustainable world, a Cuban expert said.
The meeting, held in Chilean capital Santiago from Jan. 19 to 22, approved three key documents -- the Santiago Declaration, a joint action plan, and a special declaration on the Belt and Road Initiative.
While the Santiago Declaration contains the main consensus reached at the meeting, the joint action plan for cooperation from 2019-2021 defines areas of common interest such as renewable energy, science and technology, infrastructure, and the environment.
Luis Suarez, a professor at the Higher Institute of International Relations in Havana, said these documents represent a very strong will to solve contemporary global problems through cooperation and exchanges.
Suarez said both sides are committed to becoming reliable strategic partners, with increasingly convergent views on the actions and measures taken by each other to tackle common challenges.
Referring to the special declaration on the Belt and Road Initiative, Suarez said the initiative is a global project of great significance as it proposes a new design in the relations between China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
"With this, the capabilities of transactions and investments would reach a new level and open incalculable possibilities," he said.
The expert pointed out the commitment to equitable trade and cooperation in areas such as technological development, saying it would change the traditional perception of Latin America as an exporter of commodities and lead to the exchange of products with greater added value from both directions.
Calling the forum an important platform for contemporary and future international relations as China seeks ways to strengthen relations with LAC, Suarez said it also demonstrates the Latin American will to deepen and advance its relationship with China.
The 33-member CELAC is Latin America's largest regional bloc.
