On 28 September, China Media Group collaborated with the Secretariat of Media and Public Communication of the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Argentina to organise the High-Level Forum on China-Argentina Cultural Exchanges, on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina. CMG has spoken to experts in China-Latin America relations studies about their comments on the significance of holding this event and the role of the 50-year China-Argentina relations in promoting and deepening China-Latin America relations.

Wang Hua, Deputy Secretary General of the China Peace and Development Foundation, expressed his sincere congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina. He also indicated that holding a high-level forum in the area of cultural exchange between China and Argentina has a very important significance for designing the next 50 years and beyond.

Wang Hua, Deputy Secretary General of the China Peace and Development Foundation, said: “We know that CELAC, as a very important legal and regional organisation in the Western Hemisphere, has been dedicated to the defence of regional peace, for the political, economic, social and cultural development of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is also a source of great satisfaction to note that excellent relations and cooperation are developing between China and CELAC. Now, Argentina, as the CELAC chair country, will undoubtedly play a positive and important role in promoting even more the relations between China, Latin America and the Caribbean”.

Lin Hua, Secretary General of the Center for Argentine Studies of the Latin American Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said she was pleased to see that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina, the two countries have held a high-level forum on cultural exchanges, which shows that governments, media and cultural institutions on both sides have paid increasing attention to the dialogue on cultures, and that China-Argentina relations are developing at a higher level and of higher quality.

Lin Hua, Secretary General of the ILAS-CASS Argentine Studies Center, said: “Argentina, as the pro tempore presidency of CELAC, plays a very important role in promoting relations between China and LAC countries. On the one hand, the rapid development of China-Argentina relations has been an exemplary model for other CELAC members, especially since Argentina joined the “Belt and Road” initiative in February this year, which has given it greater weight in coordinating CELAC countries’ policies towards China. On the other hand, Argentina has taken advantage of its presidency to actively promote contacts and exchanges between China and Latin American countries in various specific areas and to achieve the objectives of the China-CELAC Ministerial Forum for this year”.