Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang hosted a meeting with a delegation of envoys from 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries to China in Shanghai yesterday.

Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang (right) talks with Fernando Lugris, ambassador of Uruguay to China, during a meeting with a delegation of envoys from 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries to China, in Shanghai yesterday.

Li welcomed the envoys on behalf of the Communist Party of China Shanghai Committee and the Shanghai municipal government, and introduced to them measures taken for the prevention of COVID-19 pandemic as well as the development of economy and society in Shanghai.

The profound friendship between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries has a long history, and the “Belt and Road” Initiative, launched and promoted by President Xi Jinping, has received a wide range of positive response from Latin American and Caribbean countries, Li said.

The friendly relationship between China and Latin America and the Caribbean has achieved fruitful results, and Shanghai will unswervingly expand its opening to the outside world and continue to promote multi-field and multi-level international cooperation, according to Li.

Li hoped that two sides will expand pragmatic exchanges and cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, science, technology, education and culture, and welcomed more enterprises from Latin American and Caribbean countries to join the upcoming 3rd China International Import Expo.

Fernando Lugris, Uruguayan ambassador to China, expressed the envoys’ gratitude to China for providing support and help in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic. He expressed interest in deepening exchanges and cooperation and gave his good wishes that the upcoming 3rd CIIE will be a great success.

Envoys from 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries to China attend a meeting with Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang in Shanghai yesterday.

Antonia Hugh, ambassador of Jamaica to China; CarlosLarreaDavila, Ecuador ambassador; Francois Jackman, ambassador of Barbados; Luis Quesada, Peru ambassador; Martin Charles, Dominican ambassador; Luis Schmidt, ambassador of Chile; Patty Chen, Suriname ambassador; Paulo Estivallet, ambassador of Brazil; Luis Diego Monsalve, Colombia ambassador; Rodrigo Delgado Soto, ambassador of Costa Rica; Carlos Miguel Pereira, ambassador of Cuba; Luis Maria Kreckler, Argentina ambassador; as well as envoys of Venezuela, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama and other countries; plus Zheng Zeguang, Chinese vice minister of Foreign Affairs, and Shanghai leaders Zhuge Yujie and Xu Kunlin joined the meeting.