China denies wrestling with US in Latin America

BEIJING -- China on Friday said its relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries would not be against nor affect relations with other countries.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was commenting on a report that said that China was wrestling with the United States in Latin America.

"China is glad to see a further development of US-Latin America relations on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference of domestic affairs, and hopes the upcoming Summit of the Americas could make positive contributions to stability and development in the western hemisphere," Hua told a daily press briefing.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez held closed-door talks in Panama City on Thursday evening, before the seventh Summit of the Americas, which is slated for Friday and Saturday.

US President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro are also expected to meet.

"China, and Latin American and Caribbean countries are all developing. To expand cooperation is in their common interest, and is also an important component of South-South cooperation," Hua said.

She added that China-Latin America cooperation adheres to the principles of equality, reciprocity, openness, and inclusiveness, which will not be against, reject or affect each other's relations with other countries.

Hua noted that further development of China-Latin America relations benefited the two peoples, and promoted peace, stability and development in the region and the world as a whole.

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Latin America last July, during which the two sides decided to build a China-Latin America comprehensive cooperative partnership, as well as a forum to steer the overall cooperation between China and the region.

The first ministerial meeting of the forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held in Beijing in January 2015.