Toward a new Asia-Pacific partnership: China-LAC

Abstract

The bilateral relations between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC) are rich in their history and their agenda. The bilateral links go back to almost 3000 years ago, when an expedition dispatched by Shang Dynasty landed in Peru as its destination. Several links were established with pre-Inca cultures of those days. They are a number of historical remnants and vivid customs in the Mochica, Chavin, Chimu and Nazca Cultures. It was definitely the first contact of China with Latin America. Later on, the first organized migration of Chinese citizens went to the Americas in the 1840, helping to build railroads in the USA and looking for gold in Peru. In this process, Macao had a prominent role which is reflected in many ways. This process of the Chinese culture has influenced into the local societies and has created a unique Asian-LAC personality. Today, the Chinese culture is present in every manifestation of our local culture in many of the LAC countries. In terms of number of the Chinese communities, the largest one is in Peru with almost 3 million people, which represent 9% of the total Peruvian population. In terms of its size, it is the second one in the Western Hemisphere. The ancestors of most of the Chinese communities in LAC are natives to the South of China, from Canton to Macao, from zhuhai to hong Kong. It explains why many Chinese southern traditions exist in the LAC countries, with a clear influence in the gastronomy. The case of Peru could be highlighted, the insertion of the Chinese community into the Peruvian society has created new customs and what is well-known as “Peruvian-Chinese culture”, with its own oral expressions and traditions. Peru is the only country in the world where Chinese restaurants are called “chifas”, which is a variation of the word “chifan”, that the Chinese people use for “let́ s eat”. This closed culture links are a good foundation for the today people-to-people policies between China and Latin America. It is an authentic common ground in the bilateral ties and an advantage if you compare the relation of China with other regions. The Chinese leaders and the private sector, besides the civil society organizations, feel quite comfortable when they