Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

The path of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries should be chosen by their people, and the choice of friends is a decision for LAC countries alone, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. 

Wang made the remarks when he was asked to comment on how China would respond to US' Latin America policy, as the National Security Strategy of the US released last year shows that the US priority is to interfere in China-Latin America relations by pressuring Latin American countries. The reporter also noted some analyses point out that the US is secretly undermining China's port operations and oil trade in the region. China also issued its Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean last year, proposing to promote relations between China and LAC countries to a new level, while the above-mentioned US policies and actions clearly pose a challenge to this objective, said the reporter. 

 Old scripts from the 19th century shouldn't be acted out on the international stage of the 21st. The resources of LAC belong to the people there, the path of LAC countries should be chosen by their people, and the choice of friends is a decision for LAC countries alone, Wang responded. 

China-LAC cooperation is about the mutual help and support between Global South countries. China-LAC relations grew significantly in the past 50-plus years. The key lies in the fact that China always respects Latin American people and commits to equal treatment and mutual benefit with LAC countries, Wang said.

We never engage in geopolitical schemes, nor interfere in other countries' internal affairs, nor ask others to pick sides. At last year's Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, we jointly launched five programs for solidarity, development, civilization, peace, and people-to-people bonds, drawing a blueprint for China and LAC countries' joint march toward modernization, Wang added.

Cooperation between China and LAC countries does not target any third party and should not be subject to interference by any third party. We have great confidence in the future of China-LAC relations, Wang said. "No matter how the situation evolves, China stands ready to work with LAC countries toward building a China-LAC community with a shared future, and spreading the benefits of our comprehensive cooperative partnership to more people on both sides," Wang added.

Global Times