This session is designed to discuss about the major cooperation areas between China and Latin America on world stage, and how to make such cooperation more constructive, effective and mutual beneficial, how to review current grouping politics (BRICS, G20) and trends in world politics. Participants shared their optimistic and pessimistic views.

Optimistic scholars believe that future world economy will contribute to deeper and broader cooperation between China and Latin America. It is necessary to move beyond old thinking while insisting economic complementarity in the financial and trade sectors. Although complaints are heard from Latin American partners, Chinese side hopes Latin American countries could understand that China is exploring its develop model while setting regulations. Both sides should reach common ground by dialogue and negotiation.

Chilean scholar reviewed cooperation between Chile, Peru and China. These two dynamic and open markets not only had personnel connections with China in the history, but are steadily developing economic and trade relations with China now. Brazilian scholar pointed out that Brazilian foreign policy under workers party rule are search for assertion in the international context, search for a seat on the UN Security council, search for diversification of trade partners, strengthen multi-polarity in global governance institutions, search for negotiated solutions to international conflicts, and expansion of south-south partnership. Brazil and china can make joint efforts to search for a multipolar world such as joint action at UN to solve conflicts by negotiation, joint action at WTO, IPCC, to reform financial multilateral institutions at G20. Furthermore, cooperation between Brazil and China is such an example of south-south strategy global strategic partnership including increasing scientific and technological cooperation, bilateral trade, and capital flow.

From pessimistic perspective, Brazilian scholars think that there are internal constraints to Brazilian policy towards china, opposition of liberal and right wing parties, opposition by former staff of Foreign Affairs Ministry, oppositions of big media groups who support US position, the issue of “deindustrialization” and the myth of Africanization, opposition of sector of manufacture industry; opposition of trade unions against job lost. Chinese scholar also gave their reasons for a pessimistic view: national interest, the U.S. factor, the heterogeneity of Latin America, non-existence of an agenda(for bilateral cooperation on multilateral platform), and lack of mutual understanding. Some scholars take example of the Southern Common Market. One opinion is that China should establish partnership with the organization because it is somewhat tariff union. Another opinion is that there are legal issues to discuss if the negotiation begins.

In terms of the BRICS and G20’s role in the world politics, scholars are also divided into optimistic and pessimistic schools. Most scholars are optimistic that the BRICS and G20 are similar to G8, ASEAN and other groups. Both China and Latin American countries should make G20 workable and stand for developing countries, which is very critical for developing world. Latin American scholars believe that the BRICS is important as a potential body in the middle of 21st century. Currently its importanceliesin providing a platform for frequent meeting between these developing countries. Pessimistic scholars called the BRICS a “banquet” rather than a substantial international organization.

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