CECHAP participates in the event “What are the lessons for Europe? Understanding China’s involvement in Latin America”, in Berlin
On Wednesday, April 17, our center participated in a virtual event organized by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in Berlin, Germany, titled “What are the lessons for Europe? Understanding China’s involvement in Latin America”.
Over the past two decades, China has consolidated its position as a key commercial partner and a significant source of investment and financing for Latin America. The progression of relations between China and Latin America hasn’t escaped the attention of our longstanding allies in Europe. The relations between Latin America and Europe are historically complex and multifaceted, marked by colonialism, but today characterized by commercial exchanges, development cooperation, and cultural ties that reflect a deep connection. In this context of China’s growing presence in our region, questions arise in Europe about the future of Sino-European relations.
Questions included: How do Chinese and European objectives towards Latin America differ? How do they perceive China’s and Europe’s involvement? How can Europe offer added value in its relationship with Latin American countries? Reflections on these issues were presented in this first discussion session with key panelists.
“The Chinese presence in Latin America, in THIS century, is more strategic. It is concentrated on trade and investment, on access to important resources needed to feed their population, their steel and construction industries, and their EV industry, and to fuel their own energy transition”
– Cynthia Sanborn
“In the context of growing relations between China and Latin America, the best strategy for Europe is to maintain constructive relations with Latin American countries. In other words, they should not employ a strategy based on a zero-sum game logic like the US.”
– Leolino Dourado
During this event, fundamental questions were addressed, including the differences in Chinese and European objectives towards Latin America, how they perceive each other’s involvement, and how Europe can add value to its relationship with Latin American countries. The panelists included Benjamín Creutzfeldt, Executive Director of the Confucius Institute in Leipzig and coauthor of the publication “What are the lessons for Europe? Understanding China’s involvement in Latin America“, who was also a CECHAP affiliated researcher from 2021 to 2023. Additionally, Matt Ferchen, Senior Fellow and Senior Research Scholar at Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center in the US, and coauthor of the same publication, participated, along with Cynthia Sanborn and Leolino Dourado, director and researcher at our center, respectively. Mareike Le Pelley from FES moderated the event.
