Xi attends opening ceremony of 4th ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum in Beijing on Tuesday. Xi vowed to deepen ties with Latin America.

Beijing has stepped up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in recent years, and the two sides have a time-honored history of friendly exchanges," Xi told during the opening ceremony. Xi also pledged $9.2 billion in credit towards "development" for the region -- part of a broad set of initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation, including on infrastructure and clean energy. 

Beijing will also work with the region in counterterrorism and fighting transnational organized crime, as well as enhancing exchanges such as scholarships and training programs.