Course Background
In the past decade, economic and trade relations between China and Latin America have become increasingly close. In 2016, President Xi Jinping visited Latin America. In May 2017, during talks with the President of Argentina, he emphasized that Latin America is a natural extension of the Belt and Road Initiative. To date, 21 Latin American countries have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on the Belt and Road Initiative with China. In 2018, the Tsinghua University Latin America Center was established in Santiago, the capital of Chile. The Latin America Center serves as Tsinghua University's liaison and exchange base in Latin America, supporting the university's central mission of cultivating globally competent talent, and promoting academic research, cultural exchange, and technological innovation cooperation with Latin American countries.
Course Introduction
This series of public lectures is jointly organized by the Tsinghua University Latin America Center and the Center for Global Competence Development of Tsinghua University. Through this learning experience, students will have the opportunity to better understand the politics, economics, culture, and the development of China-Latin America relations in various countries across the Latin American region. We welcome all students interested in Latin America and the Caribbean to take this opportunity to learn about this continent that is so distant yet so friendly and familiar.
For the Spring 2026 semester, the "Understanding Latin America" public lecture series consists of 7 sessions. Chinese side has invited professors such as Professor Li Ziying from Beijing Foreign Studies University. International side has invited professors and lecturers from various institutions, including Professor Flavia Zacconi from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Associate Researcher Paula Carvalho from the National Institute of Science and Technology in Public Policies, Strategies and Development (INCT-PPED) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Professor Enrique Dussel Peters from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Professor Jhon Beens from the School of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the Central University of Venezuela, to conduct special topic lectures.
A special highlight of this course is that it will invite one or two ambassadors from Latin American countries to China to participate in a "Dialogue at the Summit" event on the Tsinghua campus. For the Spring 2026 semester, the course plans to invite the Ambassador of Peru to China and the Ambassador of Dominica to China. The Tsinghua University Latin America Center and the Tsinghua University Student Global Competence Development Guidance Center will co-host this event.
Information for This SessionLecture Topic:
Unity and Diversity: Core Issues in Latin America and Its StudiesLecture Time: April 23 (Thursday) 19:00-22:00Lecture Format: Limited in-person attendance (10 slots), unlimited online attendance.Lecture Venue: Jianhua Building A101Lecture Content: This lecture is divided into two parts:Part 1: First, Professor Chen Taotao, the Responsible Professor for the course, Professor of Finance at Tsinghua SEM and Director of the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, will introduce the course.Part 2: Professor Li Ziying from Beijing Foreign Studies University will deliver a special topic lecture. From a holistic perspective of Latin America, she will introduce the geography, culture, institutions, customs, and lifestyles of Latin America and its major countries, enabling students to form an overall understanding and impression of Latin America and feel its unique rhythm.
Introduction to the Course Responsible Professor Chen Taotao
l Director of Tsinghua University Latin America Center
l Director of Center for China-Latin America Management Studies，School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University.
l Professor of School of Economics & Management, Tsinghua University
l Responsible Professor for the "Understanding Latin America" course
Introduction to the Keynote Speaker Li Ziying
Professor Li Ziying holds a Doctor of Laws degree and is a professor, doctoral supervisor, and postdoctoral co-supervisor. She serves as the Vice Dean of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Vice Dean of the School of Spanish and Portuguese, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the international academic journal Interacción Sino-iberoamericana. She is also a member of the Spanish Sub-Committee of the National Advisory Committee on Foreign Language Teaching in Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, a standing council member of the Chinese Association for Latin American Studies, a standing council member of the Chinese Society of Latin American History, and a council member of the International Confucian Association. Having worked and lived in Latin American countries for many years, her main academic focus is on Latin American regional and country studies.
Registration Method
1. Please scan the QR code below to join the Rain Classroom. We will release the WeChat group QR code in the Rain Classroom course announcements. Please scan the code promptly to join the WeChat group to facilitate receiving subsequent lecture information.
(Image placeholder: QR Code)
2. Each session in this lecture series offers 10 slots for in-person attendance, with no limit on online attendance slots. Students interested in registering are requested to join the WeChat group and pay attention to the messages within. A sign-up thread for in-person attendance slots for each week's lecture will be posted in the group. Final registration will be confirmed based on the sign-up list.
3. This lecture series is open for registration only to currently enrolled Tsinghua University students.
4. This event is supported by the Tang Chunying Foundation.
l Each session in this lecture series offers 10 slots for in-person attendance, with no limit on online attendance slots. Students interested in registering are requested to join the WeChat group and pay attention to the messages within. A sign-up thread for in-person attendance slots for each week's lecture will be posted in the group. Final registration will be confirmed based on the sign-up list.
l This lecture series is open for registration only to currently enrolled Tsinghua University students.
l This event is supported by the Tang Chunying Foundation.
