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 American and Caribbean (LAC) countries should be chosen by their people, and the choice of friends should be made by LAC countries themselves, 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 US National Security Strategy report released last year indicates that a US priority is to exert pressure on Latin American countries and cut off economic and other ties between China and Latin America in order to interfere in China-Latin America relations. 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. 

The international stage in the 21st century should no longer see the replay of old scripts from the 19th century. The resources of LAC countries belong to their people. The path of LAC countries should be chosen by their people, and the choice of friends should be made by LAC countries themselves, Wang responded. 

The cooperation between China and LAC countries represents mutual assistance and mutual support among countries of the Global South. Looking back over the past more than half century, the rapid development of bilateral relations is largely attributable to China's consistent respect for the people of LAC countries and its commitment to treating all LAC countries as equals while pursuing mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, Wang said.

China has never engaged in geopolitical maneuvering, never interfered in other countries' internal affairs, and never asked others to take sides. At last year's ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, the two sides jointly launched the five programs on solidarity, development, civilization, peace and people-to-people connectivity, outlining a blueprint for China and Latin America to advance toward modernization together, Wang said.

The cooperation between two sides does not target any third party, nor should it be disrupted by any third party. "We are full of confidence in the future of relations between China and LAC countries. No matter how the situation evolves, China stands ready to work with LAC countries to steadily advance the building of a community with a shared future and ensure that the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and LAC countries delivers greater benefits to the peoples of both sides," Wang said.

Global Times