Chinese, Latin American cultures shine at think tank event

A China-Latin America think tank dialogue on civilizations became the perfect occasion for cultural exchange, bringing together 26 scholars from 15 Latin American countries and about 15 diplomats from Latin American embassies in China. At the event, themed "Shining across the oceans, building a shared path of governance and civilizations", interactions among the scholars and their Chinese counterparts fostered a deeper mutual understanding and appreciation of each other's cultures. Co-hosted by the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee; the Capital Museum, China; and other institutions, the event took place at the museum in Beijing on Tuesday.

The dialogue coincided with the museum's exhibition on ancient Maya and Andean civilizations. After viewing the exhibition the Latin American guests took part in a symposium.

Guo Jingning, director of the Capital Museum, China, said the exhibition acts as a platform for dialogue and exchange between Chinese and Latin American civilizations. Noting that this year marks the third anniversary of the Global Civilization Initiative, he emphasized that interactions between China and Latin American countries are set to witness a new starting point.

In his keynote speech, Ma Hui, vice-minister of the IDCPC, highlighted Latin America as a region where European, indigenous and African cultures converge and coexist. Despite the distance, China and Latin America share a long history of friendly exchanges and mutual learning. As early as the 16th century, the trans-Pacific maritime Silk Road facilitated the exchange of Chinese silk and porcelain for Latin American crops such as corn, potatoes and tomatoes. Since the mid-19th century, Chinese immigrants have contributed to Latin America's development, integrating Chinese cuisine, traditional medicine and other cultural elements into local life.

Today, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin America are deepening, expanding cooperation and increasing mutual learning across various fields. Ma concluded that both regions should continue to enhance mutual learning, broaden cultural exchanges and strengthen connectivity between their peoples.

Rafael Belaunde, a former Peruvian minister of energy and mines who is now president of a Peru-based think tank, emphasized the significance of the exhibition, which showcases key elements of ancient Latin American civilizations — jade, corn, gold and the jaguar. Despite the vast ocean between them, China and Latin America are home to millennia-old civilizations that harnessed nature for humanity's benefit. He highlighted that both Chinese and Andean cultures developed advanced hydraulic systems, irrigation networks and complex social and political structures, while upholding core values such as integrity, diligence and honesty as essential pillars of coexistence.

Belaunde remarked that in today's world, marked by significant changes in geopolitics, technology, and the economy, dialogue among civilizations is crucial for fostering balanced, pragmatic and mutually beneficial global relationships.