On the morning of November 22 (Chilean time), the seminar Synergies between the Productive Development Policies of China and Latin America & the Caribbean was successfully held at the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile. The forum was co-hosted by the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, the China-Latin America Management Research Center of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management, and ECLAC. The event aimed to explore opportunities for deeper cooperation between China and Latin America in critical areas such as infrastructure, technology, and productivity development, with a view to addressing complex geopolitical challenges and fostering mutually beneficial development.
The forum began with opening speeches by Marco Llinás, Director of Production, Productivity, and Management at ECLAC, and Professor Chen Taotao, Director of Tsinghua University’s Latin America Center. Llinás highlighted the importance of learning from China’s development experiences and expressed his hopes that the event would initiate a deeper dialogue with China to explore new synergies in productivity development. Chen Taotao highlighted the value of reigniting discussions on China-Latin America synergies amid a challenging international landscape, stressing the need for shared knowledge and information to encourage deeper understanding and collaboration. Ultimately, he aimed for win-win development for Latin American productivity and China-Latin America relations.
Opening Remarks by Chen Tao-tao, Director of Tsinghua University's Latin American Center and Professor of the School of Economics and Management
Opening remarks by Marco Llinás, Director, Division of Production, Productivity and Management, ECLAC, United Nations
Session 1: Background & Overview of Productivity Development Policies in China and Latin America
The first session provided an overview of productivity development policies in China and Latin America. Zhang Jin, Senior Researcher and Deputy Director of the China Center for International Knowledge on Development, emphasized that effective policy coordination and industrial cooperation require an understanding of industrial structures at the global, regional, and national levels. Using China's high-speed rail and electric vehicle sectors as examples, she demonstrated how China's Five-Year Plan framework has created a stable policy environment to drive industrial development. Zhang underscored China's efforts to balance state and market roles and stressed the importance.
From the Latin American perspective, Marco Llinás highlighted key challenges facing the region's productivity development policies, including limited growth capacity, stagnating productivity, and policy marginalization. He called for stronger cooperation between public and private sectors, academia, and civil society, as well as better coordination between national and local governments. He also identified areas of potential synergy with China in productive development policies.
Session 2: Dialogue on Synergies and Collaborative Measures
The second session focused on potential synergies between Latin American and Chinese productivity development policies, as well as concrete actions to achieve them. The discussion featured ten experts from Tsinghua University, ECLAC, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the University of Chile, Colombia’s former Ministry of Foreign Trade, and Chile’s power utility CGE. The hybrid event allowed for both in-person and online participation.
Key Presentations
Yue Yunxia, Deputy Director and Professor at the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, introduced China’s "new industrial policy" aimed at improving industrial quality through technological innovation and reallocation of resources. This policy targets emerging strategic industries such as the digital economy, new materials, and renewable energy while promoting quality upgrades in traditional sectors. Yue underlined China’s commitment to building a modern industrial system and leveraging international cooperation to enhance economic security. She suggested that future China-Latin America cooperation should focus on the Belt and Road Initiative, science and technology cooperation, green development, and infrastructure development.
Liang Zheng, Deputy Director and Professor at Tsinghua University’s Institute for China’s Science, Technology, and Policy, shared insights from his long-term research on China's science and technology policies. He described the policy structure as comprising top-level guidelines, strategic initiatives, and tax incentives, supplemented by policies aimed at market environment development. Liang highlighted new policy models in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and noted that policies not only drive technological development but also support the transformation of traditional industries.
Shen Weixing, Professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Law and Director of the Institute for AI and Law, emphasized the importance of AI governance and called for cross-national cooperation and mutual recognition of regulatory frameworks. He warned of the risks posed by regulatory competition and stressed that AI governance should account for cultural differences. He proposed establishing a China-Latin America AI governance cooperation mechanism to maximize AI’s benefits for education and vulnerable groups.
Enrique Dussel-Peters, Professor at UNAM’s Faculty of Economics, analyzed China’s direct investment in Latin America, distinguishing infrastructure projects from foreign direct investment (FDI). He noted the diversity of China’s investments in terms of countries and industries. Dussel-Peters advocated linking the proposals from the forum with the actual results of China's investments in Latin America to foster production development and enhance synergies.
Fernando Sossdorf, Assistant Professor at the University of Chile’s Institute of International Studies, discussed the role of industrial policy synergies and China's role in Latin America’s industrial development. He highlighted three key areas for collaboration: innovation, infrastructure, and special economic zones. Sossdorf focused on the importance of clean energy technologies and battery development and called for Latin American countries to learn from China's experience in formulating industrial policy that aligns with local conditions to strengthen value chains and promote economic growth.
Andrés Cárdenas Muñoz, former Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Colombia, argued that China’s role as a provider of industrial technology is essential for Latin America’s industrialization. He cited examples such as vaccine production, where collaboration with Chinese firms has driven industrial development in Colombia. However, he pointed out that Latin America’s political shifts and democratic systems present challenges to long-term planning and the continuity of development projects.
Chen Taotao, drawing from her extensive research in Latin America, emphasized the role of Chinese firms that have successfully rooted themselves in the region. She noted the positive spillover effects these companies generate through technology transfer, employment creation, and industry linkages. Chinese firms increasingly engage with local social contexts and adopt responsible business practices. Looking ahead, Chen called for new methods to deepen mutual understanding, encourage experimental initiatives, promote intergovernmental awareness, and foster partnerships between think tanks and the private sector.
Eduardo Gómez T., Director of Network Planning and Construction at CGE, Chile’s electricity distribution company, discussed the opportunities for collaboration between Chile and China in solar energy. He highlighted how China's advanced solar technology, combined with Chile’s abundant solar resources, creates immense potential for cooperation. He emphasized the role of microgrid technology in addressing electricity access challenges in remote areas of Chile and CGE’s commitment to supporting sustainable energy solutions for local communities.
Closing Remarks
The forum concluded with remarks from Marco Llinás and Chen Taotao. Marco Llinás highlighted the event as the first step in an ongoing dialogue and expressed hope for future implementation of concrete projects. Likewise, Chen Taotao reiterated the importance of continuing the discussion and emphasized the need for an open approach that invites more Chinese companies to join the dialogue. He stressed the goal of bridging supply and demand gaps through sustained cooperation.
