Chinese investments in Latin America and the Caribbean will be key to the growth and development of this region, especially for infrastructure, Colombian academic Jose Reyes Bernal Bellon told Xinhua.
Chinese investments are “an added value that provides a big opportunity for the region. China’s market is huge compared to anyone in Latin American and it can help to sustain growth,” Bellon, a professor on international economics at the Antonio Narino University in Colombia said during the Third Latin America, Caribbean and China International Seminar in Mexico City.
The event was organized on Monday by the Academic Network Latin America, Caribbean and China (RED ALC-China).
Bellon also said that China could address country-specific challenges, such as the lack of road infrastructure in Colombia, Bolivia and Peru.
Image taken on July 29, 2015 and provided by Electroingenieria S.A. (ELGIN) company shows workers receiving materials from the vessel that transports the first machines for the preliminary construction works of the dams “Nestor Kirchner” and “Jorge Cepernic”, in the port of Punta Quilla, Santa Cruz province, 2,810 km away of Buenos Aires city, capital of Argentina. (Xinhua/ELGIN)
“I feel that each country could overcome this delay through their bilateral ties with China. These investments can provide added value, as they create jobs, improve salaries, and make long-term differences to transportation costs,” according to Bellon.
“Mexico also cannot overlook this opportunity, therefore, it needs to create conditions for investments to benefit both parties,” he added.
The RED ALC-China was created in 2012 and has quickly become a reputable research forum, in which researchers, academics, international institutions, businesses, NGOs, governments and students meet to discuss common challenges and progress in the multilateral ties.
This year’s forum saw the discussion of various topics, including the learning of Chinese language in Latin America and the Caribbean and of Spanish in China, the challenge of migration, and the management of the environment and natural resources.
