1. Event Introduction

On March 25, 2026, the 5th Latin American and Caribbean Ambassadors’ Dialogue at Tsinghua, themed "China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Economic Transformation", was held at Jianhua Building of Tsinghua University. Qiu Yong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tsinghua University, Martin Charles, Ambassador of Dominica to China, and Zhang Run, Director-General of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended and delivered opening speeches. Yang Bin, Vice Chairman of the University Council of Tsinghua University, delivered a closing speech. Xiao Qian, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Tsinghua University, and Chen Taotao, Director of the Latin America Center, hosted the event. More than 30 diplomatic envoys and representatives from 22 embassies of Latin American and Caribbean countries participated in the event.

Qiu Yong extended a warm welcome and gratitude to the guests, pointing out that since its establishment in 2021, the event has become an important platform for deepening exchanges between China and Latin America. Tsinghua University will continue to promote its global strategy and push China-Latin America relations to go deeper and more solid. Martin Charles stated that China is an important strategic partner of Latin America and the Caribbean region, and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has provided strong support for Latin America’s development. All parties should adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results. Zhang Run pointed out that the event is of great significance in the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and China is willing to make efforts in three major areas—market docking, energy transition and industrial upgrading—to promote the steady and long-term development of China-Latin America cooperation.

During the event, Chen Taotao, Professor of the School of Economics and Management, Director of the Latin America Center, and Director of the Tsinghua-Latin America Management Research Center, introduced the background, achievements and prospects of the project "China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges – 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge". Bai Chong-en, Dean of the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University, delivered a keynote speech, elaborating on the goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan, China’s economic development achievements and driving factors, and analyzing key issues such as industrial policies and adjustments in the structure of domestic and foreign demand. In the roundtable discussion session, Martin Charles, Chen Taotao and Bai Chong-en conducted in-depth exchanges with diplomatic envoys from various countries on the theme of this session. In his closing speech, Yang Bin stated that Tsinghua University will continue to deepen friendship between China and Latin America, give play to the bridging role of the Latin America Center, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, expand space for multi-field cooperation, and help the global development move towards a new stage of balance, coordination and inclusiveness.

This event was hosted by Tsinghua University and undertaken by the Latin America Center of Tsinghua University, the Institute for Global Development, the Center for Student Global Competence Development, and the China-Latin America Management Research Center of the School of Economics and Management. Nearly 100 teachers and students from relevant units of the university attended the event.

Figure: Event Scene

2. Volunteers and Global Competence

The efficient implementation and smooth operation of this event were inseparable from the full support of a professional service team composed of more than 40 volunteers. The volunteers were from various colleges of Tsinghua University, including the School of Economics and Management, the School of Law, the School of Marxism, and the School of Journalism and Communication, covering different grades of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs. They included Chinese students and international students from countries such as Mexico, Brazil and the United States, endowing the team with a natural open and inclusive collaborative characteristic and making it a vivid youth link connecting Chinese and Latin American cultures and promoting bilateral exchanges.

To serve the event in the most professional manner, the volunteers conducted systematic training before the official holding of the event. The training content not only included basic knowledge of China-Latin America cooperation, but also focused on strengthening multilingual communication skills, cross-cultural communication etiquette and various emergency response procedures, enabling each volunteer to accurately grasp service details and calmly respond to various scenarios in the event, laying a solid foundation for the smooth progress of the event. On the day of the event, the volunteers arrived at the scene early, devoted themselves to various service tasks with full enthusiasm, and fulfilled their responsibilities with careful and thoughtful actions.

The volunteers arrived at each entrance of Jianhua Building in advance, carefully checked the invitation information of each guest, patiently guided the guests to complete registration, receive event materials and relevant documents, flexibly adjusted their work rhythm, and completed the guidance work. In the process of receiving guests, the volunteers accompanied the ambassadors to China and their entourage throughout, accurately conveying the event agenda.

This volunteer team, which worked together seamlessly, fully demonstrated excellent global competence in the entire service process. They not only had solid professional knowledge, but also possessed proficient cross-cultural communication skills, respected the cultural customs of different countries, flexibly responded to various problems, and showed a strong sense of responsibility and team spirit. With their professional, careful and warm services, the volunteers provided a solid guarantee for the successful holding of the event. In practice, they further tempered their international perspective, communication skills and comprehensive literacy, interpreted the mission and responsibility of youth in the new era with youth power, and became the most dynamic scenery in China-Latin America youth exchanges and cooperation.

Figure: Group Photo of Volunteers

3. Volunteers' Reflections

Li Meng, Master’s Student, Grade 2023, School of Law

In the cultural appointment between Tsinghua and ambassadors from various Latin American countries, I truly felt that civilizations become colorful through exchanges and enriched through mutual learning. The passionate and unrestrained artistic heritage of Latin America met the inclusive and gentle temperament of the East, crossing mountains and seas, and connecting hearts. This China-Latin America cultural dialogue also made me better understand the profound meaning of building a bridge with culture to promote people-to-people bonds.

Ma Zhongnan, Master’s Student, Grade 2023, School of Journalism and Communication

As a volunteer, I felt the thoroughness and efficiency of the teachers and students of the Latin America Center in organizing the event, and also gained the experience of China-Latin America cross-cultural exchanges. From the overall coordination in the early stage to the precise implementation on site, all work was carried out in an orderly manner; during the event, volunteers could also broaden their international perspective and benefit a lot from the practice of cross-cultural exchanges. Being able to integrate into such a rigorous and pragmatic team and witness the smooth development of this important exchange event was a precious and fulfilling experience for me.

Zhang Fengzhan, Doctoral Student, Grade 2025, School of Social Sciences (International Student from Brazil)

I really liked this event yesterday! It was not only well-organized and very regular, but also the content of the event was very appealing. I also had a great time interacting with other volunteers and gained a lot throughout the process.

Figure: Volunteers' Souvenir Photo

Li Nuo, Doctoral Student, Grade 2025, School of Humanities

It was a great honor to participate in the volunteer service of this session of the "Latin American Ambassadors’ Dialogue at Tsinghua". I was responsible for receiving envoys and coordinating the venue. My language training during undergraduate studies and my understanding of Latin American history became a bridge for communication. The development issues involved in the event agenda also resonated deeply with my focus on cultural collision and social changes during my master’s and doctoral studies. I deeply realized that the true meaning of cultural exchange lies in seeking resonance in differences and nurturing consensus in dialogue. This experience allowed me to stand at the intersection of academics and reality. In the future, I will continue to devote myself to the cause of promoting dialogue between Chinese and foreign civilizations with the rigor of historical research and the openness of cross-cultural learning.

Figure: Event Scene: Volunteers' Souvenir Photo

The 5th Latin American and Caribbean Ambassadors’ Dialogue at Tsinghua came to a successful conclusion. During this event, guests discussed development and cooperation together, and volunteers showed their youth responsibility and conveyed warmth. Tsinghua University practiced its global strategy with practical actions, demonstrating the important role of universities in promoting international exchanges and cooperation. In the future, China and Latin America will continue to deepen coordinated development in various fields, and Tsinghua University will also continue to play a bridging role, cultivate more young talents with global competence, promote in-depth exchanges between China and Latin America, temper their abilities and broaden their horizons in cross-cultural exchange practices, and show the responsibility and demeanor of youth in the new era with actions.

Figure: Event Scene: Volunteers Participating in the Meeting and Learning