President Xi Jinping has called for countries to stand together to promote global peace and stability, stressing that “there were no winners in tariff wars”, in a veiled reference to the US.
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In his first public remarks since US-China trade talks at the weekend, Xi told leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean that “bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation”.
Xi was speaking at the opening of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Celac forum in Beijing on Tuesday.
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Why the US is worried about China’s growing influence in South America
Why the US is worried about China’s growing influence in South America
“The world is undergoing a century of rapid change, with multiple risks compounding one another. Only through solidarity and cooperation can countries maintain world peace and stability,” he said.
Xi’s message was in line with China’s broader efforts to enlist support from other countries, particularly in the Global South, against the backdrop of its trade war with the United States – despite talks on the weekend which resulted in both sides agreeing to a 90-day pause.
Washington is also seeking to expand its influence in its backyard, including putting pressure on Panama to free the canal through the country from what the White House views as Chinese control.
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According to China’s foreign ministry, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair a meeting with foreign ministers of countries in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), a grouping of more than 30 countries from the two regions.