From May 8th to 18th, 2019, Amb. Wu Hailong, President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), heading a delegation of experts and scholars, visited Argentina, Chile and Panama. The delegation jointly held seminars themed the Belt and Road Initiative and bilateral relations with Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI), Foreign Affairs Committee of Chile’s Senate and University of Panama respectively. The delegation also paid visits to government officials, senators and entrepreneurs of the three countries. 

The delegation consisted of Amb. Li Jinzhang, former Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and former Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, Amb. Ou Boqian, Vice President of CPIFA, as well as experts and scholars from Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) and Renmin University.

The delegation introduced achievements and deliverables of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to the foreign counterparts, and exchanged views on bilateral relations, China-Latin American relations and progress of the Belt and Road Initiative in Latin America.

In Argentina, Amb. Wu Hailong, Amb. Zou Xiaoli, Chinese Ambassador to Argentina, Dr. Felix Peña, Deputy President of CARI and Min. Acevedo Diaz, Director General of the Department of Asian and Oceania Affairs, Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion, addressed the seminar respectively. The delegation also held talks with Ms. Marisa Bircher, International Trade Secretary of Argentine Ministry of Production and Labour, and Amb. Luis P. Beltramino, Undersecretary for Foreign Relations of Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion, and attended a luncheon on the theme of Belt and Road Cooperation sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce. 

In Chile, Amb. Wu Hailong, Amb. Xu Bu, Chinese Ambassador to Chile, Amb. Roberto Ampuero, Foreign Minister of Chile addressed the seminar respectively. Amb. Li Jinzhang, Prof. José Insulza, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Chile’s Senate, and Mr. Rodrigo Yáez, Deputy Minister of Chilean Ministry of Foreign Trade delivered keynote speeches respectively. The delegation also paid visit to H. E. Mr. Eduardo Frei, former President of Chile, and held talks with Chilean senators.

In Panama, Amb. Wu Hailong, Amb. Wei Qiang, Chinese Ambassador to Panama, Mr. Elias Castillo, President of Latin-American Parliament addressed the seminar respectively. The delegation also paid visit to Mr. De León Sánchez, Chairman of China-Panama Friendship Committee of Panamanian National Assembly, and held talks with representatives of Chinese enterprises in Panama.