In Latin America, the "temperature of China" keeps on rising.

During Chinese president Xi Jinping's trip in Latin America, the major media of Latin America carried full reports of Xi's visit at prime time or in headlines. A Chinese wind has swept through Latin American countries.

Xi attended the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit and made an important speech on July 17, 2014. During the summit, he also had meetings with key leaders from Latin American and Caribbean countries.

It is no accident that the "temperature of China" keeps on rising in Latin America.

Economically, the level of cooperation between China and Latin America continues to rise rapidly in trade, investment and finance. Since 2000, economic cooperation between China and Latin America has achieved amazing results: in 2001 China-Latin America trade amounted to more than $10 billion; in 2007 trade exceeded $100 billion; in 2012 trade exceeded $200 billion. Against this background, the $500 billion barrier can be expected to be broken in the near future. Latin America has benefited hugely from China's growth; at the same time, China has also promoted its own development by working with Latin America.

Politically, the majority of countries in Latin America have always been friendly to China. They share identical or similar views on many international issues. In the absence of significant political differences, China and Latin American always support each other. As one Latin American leader said, no political strings are attacheed to cooperation between China and Latin American countries. China treats Latin American countries equally regardless of their size, never interfering in their internal affairs, never overwhelming their people, and never pursuing its own unilateral interests.

China and Latin America have a special sense of intimacy in culture and history. A large number of Chinese ancestors lived in Latin American. Today more and more Chinese people work, study and invest there.

More importantly, the great achievements of China's reform and opening up attract interest from people in Latin America. Latin American countries are mostly developing countries. They are facing the same problems as China. Latin American countries want to learn from China in promoting their own economic and social development; China also expects the same from Latin America.

Longtime friendship, close cooperation and a bright future for China and Latin America have helped to make Xi's visit to Latin America a great success. 

This article is edited and translated from 拉美的“中国温度”何以持续走高？Source: Xinhua