In May 2025, the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was held in Beijing. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, subnational exchanges between Beijing and cities in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries have continued to deepen, consistently contributing to the broader China-LAC friendship.

Though Oceans Apart, We Share a Common Destiny

Stretching southward along the Pan-American Highway lie Mexico City, San José, Lima, and Santiago - major cities flanking the Andes Mountains from north to south. Further across the mountains, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires rest along the coast. Though oceans apart, Beijing and its LAC sister cities have long cultivated a cherished friendship that has withstood the test of time.

Beijing’s Juyongguan Great Wall illuminated

City landmark lighting events pay tribute to friendship and symbolize the bonds between peoples across Beijing and its LAC sister cities. In recent years, iconic sites in LAC sister cities, such as the Somaya Museum, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, the Obelisk, and the Christ the Redeemer statue, have been illuminated in festive “China Red” to celebrate the Chinese New Year together with the people of Beijing. The Canal Business District of Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) hosted multiple lighting events to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mexico, and the first anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Nicaragua. In 2024, the Juyongguan Great Wall and the Lapa Arches in Rio de Janeiro jointly held a lighting ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, demonstrating the deep and long-standing friendship between the two countries.

“Beijing Day” in Buenos Aires

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing and its LAC sister cities stood together in solidarity, providing mutual assistance through the exchange of medical supplies and sharing of epidemic prevention and control expertise. Since 2023, subnational exchanges between Beijing and LAC cities have gained greater momentum. Events such as “Beijing Day” and anniversary celebrations of the establishment of sister-city ties have been held in Santiago, Buenos Aires, San José, and other cities, further enhancing mutual learning and experience sharing in urban governance.

Cláudio Castro, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: “We commend Beijing’s achievements in building itself an exemplary international city for green development. We look forward to enhancing connection with relevant institutions in Beijing, to apply energy-saving and consumption-reducing technologies to our public buildings, advancing practical outcomes in green cooperation.”

Governor Castro visits the BMC

Dahianna Marín Chacón, Representative of the Mayor of San José, Costa Rica: “We hope to learn from Beijing’s experience in public concern response, waste sorting and management, sewage treatment, and the application of clean energy, so as to improve urban governance in our city and enhance the well-being of our citizens.”

Chacón visits the Qinghe II Water Reclamation Plant operated by Beijing Drainage Group

Luis Bullrich, Head of the Innovation Park of Buenos Aires, Argentina: “Beijing’s achievements in intelligent connected vehicles are truly impressive. We hope to introduce autonomous vehicles produced by Beijing-based enterprises to advance autonomous driving applications in Argentina.”

Bullrich visits the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone