A forum on economy and trade between China and Guatemala, which was co-hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Chamber of Cooperation and Commerce, China-Guatemala, in Guatemala City on January 25. CCPIT Vice Chairman Chen Zhou, Ex-Minister of Economy Velazquez, Chairman of the Chamber of Cooperation and Commerce China-Guatemala Pedro Barnoya attended the forum.
Chen Zhou said, China and Guatemala are distant from each other yet the economy and trade exchanges are becoming closer. The two countries bear different resources and advantages, and the economic structures are complementary with each other. Strengthening cooperation is a right choice for both countries amid the economic globalization and regional economic integration, and it is mutually beneficial.
Chen made four proposals for fostering economic and trade cooperation between China and Guatemala. “First, Guatemala enterprises are welcomed to participate in the 12th China-LAC Business Summit scheduled for this autumn in Zhuhai, and platforms should be established for fostering economic and trade cooperation. Second, we will organize more business groups to visit Guatemala and well organize China Trade Exhibition to be held in Guatemala this year. More enterprises are encouraged to invest in Guatemala and cooperate in manufacturing, tourism and service industries. Third, we will strengthen cooperation that caters to each country’s special requirements, build information exchange platforms and provide services such as consultation, project matching and legal affairs. Fourth, we will encourage and support Guatemala enterprises to explore Chinese market and export high quality products to China during which more balanced and sustainable bilateral trade will be developed,” added Chen.
Velazquez spoke highly of the achievement that almost 60 million Chinese have eradicated from poverty in the past five years. He said Guatemala is willing to expand economic and trade cooperation with China And welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest in Guatemala so as to ensure the increase in employment, poverty eradication and economic and social development of the central American country.
Pedro Barnoya and other speakers shared the economic and trade cooperation between Guatemala and China, investment environment, policies and regulations, environmental protection policies and the coffee industry in Guatemala.
More than 150 representatives from Guatemala Office of President, Chinese Embassy in Costa Rica, Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environmental Protection and enterprises of two countries were in attendance.
