The “Going to Latin America” Investment Forum was held at Guangzhou Imperial Spring International Conference Center on 25th and 26th of February by China Public Diplomacy Association.

　　After the opening ceremony, seminars on specific topics were conducted. Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the American & Oceanian Affairs Department of Ministry of Commerce and the Latin America Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced policies and regulations about Chinese enterprises going to Latin America as well as the service and measures they could offer. The Chinese Government will support qualified and competent enterprises to lead cooperation proactively and progressively there. By the end of 2013, the investment from China to Latin America had accumulated to 80 billion US dollar, accounting for 13% of China’s foreign direct investment. Latin America had become an important destination for China’s overseas investment and one of the fastest growing regions. Relevant departments would simplify the formalities for examination formalities and approval procedures, and delegate power to lower-level government to make more convenient condition provide convenience for Chinese enterprises to invest overseas.

　　Jorge Quiroga, the former President of Bolivia, indicated that last decade was the best period for the economic development of Latin America, especially the cooperation with China had helped change Latin America and also the whole world. China and Latin America is now facing many common challenges, thus the Latin American countries will lay more emphasis on the cooperation with China and promote it in the all around way.

　　Ambassadors and diplomats from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Bolivia, Uruguay, Cuba, Jamaica and Surinam introduced their countries’ economic environment, resource advantages, investment policy and the current situation of Chinese enterprises seeking their fortunes in Latin America respectively. They welcomed more Chinese enterprises to enlarge their investment and trade scale there. They underlined that Latin American countries still had large potential for development, and their foreign assets systems and operating environments were becoming better and better. They welcomed and were willing to offer preferential policies to Chinese enterprises which operated in the field of infrastructure like highways, railroads and ports.

　　According to the participants, Latin America used to remind people of remote places, but through discussion for two days, attendees from both sides have found the opportunities to work with each other. “Chinese enterprises going to Latin America” is not only concerned about economic areas, but also a system combining such areas as politics, culture and communication. Chinese enterprises should respect Latin American countries’ culture and tradition as well as be bound by local laws and regulations to create good images for themselves and the country.

　　This forum was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the China Development Bank, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Embassies of China in Latin America, the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Guangzhou Municipal Government, the Guangdong Public Diplomacy Association, the China Radio International, the China Economic Net and many other organizations. China will endeavor to initial China-Latin American Cooperation Forum and hold the first ministerial meeting in Beijing within this year to embark on a new era of cooperation between China and Latin America.