CECHAP researchers participate in the conference “Legal Dimension of China’s Presence in Latin America”
From February 10 to 12, 2025, Claudia Martínez-Zúñiga and Ning Leng, researchers affiliated with CECHAP, participated in the conference “Legal Dimension of China’s Presence in Latin America” at the Faculty of Law of the University of Barcelona. Martínez-Zúñiga and Leng presented their research on the legal challenges faced by Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the Peruvian government in the infrastructure sector in Peru. A central aspect of their study was the impact of the possible classification of these companies as part of the same “Economic Group” in the infrastructure sector of the Peruvian market. This classification stems from the relationship between SOEs and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of China (SASAC), a government agency responsible for managing and overseeing China’s state-owned enterprises. The role of SASAC in the governance of these companies has sparked debates about their level of independence, which, in Peru’s infrastructure sector, could restrict their participation in public tenders and create conflicts with international treaties signed between Peru and China.
During the event, experiences from other countries facing legal challenges in various fields, such as environmental protection and the use of artificial intelligence, were discussed, and legal solutions were explored to balance the protection of foreign investments with local regulations. The conference provided a space for academic exchange, where participants showed great interest in the research, recognizing its relevance in the global context of Chinese corporate expansion.
Martínez-Zúñiga and Leng emphasized the importance of sharing their work in international forums to foster dialogue on the regulation of SOEs in global markets and found valuable insights from other researchers. Finally, they highlighted the opportunity to connect with colleagues with similar interests and broaden their perspectives on the topic.
