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Documents adopted at the First Ministerial Meeting of the CELAC-China Forum - Beijing, January 8 and 9, 2015

Published in Jan 12, 2015 07:41 PM Updated in Aug 20, 2015 02:31 PM

BEIJING DECLARATION OF THE FIRST MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE CELAC – CHINA FORUM

CHINA-LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES COOPERATION PLAN (2015-2019)

CELAC COMMUNIQUE IN CONDEMNATION OF THE TERRORISTS ATTACKS PERPETRATED IN FRANCE

THE INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND OPERATING RULES OF CELAC-CHINA FORUM

BEIJING DECLARATION OF THE FIRST MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE CELAC – CHINA FORUM

1. We, the Foreign Ministers and representatives of the People's Republic of China and the member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum (CCF) under the theme of "New Platform, New Starting Point, New Opportunity - Joint Efforts to Promote China - Latin America and the Caribbean Partnership of Comprehensive Cooperation" on January 8^th and 9^th, 2015 in Beijing.

2. We appreciate the attendance of the President of China, Xi Jinping, the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís, the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Gladstone Christie and the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, at the opening ceremony.

We recall the I CELAC Summit celebrated in Santiago, Chile, where the Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean instructed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to coordinate efforts in order to conform a “CELAC – China Forum” and the II CELAC Summit held in Havana, Cuba, where the Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean expressed their commitment to the creation of the CELAC – China Forum through the adoption of a Special Declaration.

3. We recognize that the Special Declaration, the China – Latin America and the Caribbean Leaders' Meeting, the China – Latin America and the Caribbean Leaders' Meeting and the Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of CELAC´s Quartet, formed by Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador and Cuba, with China, held in Brasilia in July 2014 were important events in the history of relations between China and the region. These meetings decided to formalize a partnership of comprehensive cooperation for equality, mutual benefit, and common development between the two sides, charting out the course for the long-term development of China-Latin American and the Caribbean relationship, in the framework of the CELAC-China Forum.

We are determined to work together to strengthen our mutual relationship, in the framework of the CELAC-China Forum, fully comply with norms and principles of International Law including the mutual respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity, promote cooperation and equitable and equally beneficial treatment in the trade and economical field, mutual learning in the cultural field, enhance constructive dialogue and close consultation in international affairs, and mutually reinforce all areas of cooperation.

4. We are convinced that the formal establishment of the China-CELAC Forum provides an important platform for the countries to have widespread cooperation. The Forum, led by the CELAC – China Foreign Ministries will address diplomatic, political, economic, science and technology, trade, financial, cultural, social and environmental areas, among others arising from the meetings held within the Forum.

We are guided by the principles of respect, equality, plurality, mutual benefit, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness and non-conditionality; we are resolved to carry out a dialogue in the framework of the Forum´s thematic areas and others added by mutual agreement, through innovative ways of cooperation, in order to promote common sustainable development, social well-being, economic growth and make new contributions to South-South cooperation.

5. Determined to further deepen the partnership of comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, we have reached the following consensus concerning the CELAC - China Forum as a new platform, new starting point and new opportunity for dialogue and cooperation:

China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, as developing countries and emerging economies, are important forces for the attainment of world peace and prosperity as well as for the promotion of multilateralism and a multipolar world, and greater democracy in international relations.

The sides are ready to intensify dialogue and collaboration on regional and global affairs of mutual interest, enhance their collaboration on major global issues, strengthen the voice of developing countries in decision-making bodies of multilateral institutions and continue to make positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity.

China and Latin America and the Caribbean face similar development goals and share broad interests, while recognizing the specific challenges faced by less developed members of CELAC. We agree that our relationship is an important opportunity for mutual development.

We will actively work to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts including institutionalized dialogues at relevant levels, to strengthen experiences on governance and enhance consultations on international issues.

Promoting substantial and comprehensive mutual cooperation is a priority. We will work actively to develop a mutually agreed framework for cooperation, based in the follow-up and monitoring of initiatives, programs and projects, in order to promote dialogue on our respective development strategies and macroeconomic policies, transform and upgrade cooperation at a faster pace, aiming at achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development.

We will strive to increase people-to-people exchanges through greater interaction between legislative bodies, state and local governments as well as young people and other actors of society to promote mutual knowledge and to expand exchanges and cooperation in such fields as education, human resources training, think-tanks, media, culture, sports, science and technology, agriculture, tourism, energy, natural resources and infrastructure.

The overall cooperation within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum will promote the deepening of comprehensive cooperation between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. In this context, we have adopted the "Plan of Cooperation between China and the Latin American and Caribbean Countries (2015-2019)", identifying the key areas and specific measures of cooperation between China and the region in the next period. We have also adopted the "Institutional Arrangements and Operating Rules of the CELAC – China Forum", in order to build our framework for dialogue and cooperation.
We agree that the China – Latin America and the Caribbean countries Cooperation Plan 2015 – 2019 from the CELAC – China Forum will be implemented, under the principles of flexibility and voluntary participation, in accordance with the domestic policies and the provisions of the national legal system of each Party, and shall not affect any bilateral cooperation program previously agreed upon by individual parties nor substitute the bilateral agreements, decisions and commitments set between the Parties.
We will actively explore the possibility of holding a Summit meeting, when condition are ripe, with the participation of China and CELAC member countries’ leaders, and encourage meetings in specific fields to be held under the framework of the CELAC - China Forum.
We consider that a special treatment should be given to Caribbean countries regarding the strategies and cooperation projects in the Forum.

6. We decide to conduct, where appropriate, dialogue and cooperation with other regional organizations and institutions of Latin America and the Caribbean, within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum, in order to build a network of comprehensive and balanced cooperation between China and the region. We warmly welcome the participation at this meeting of ECLAC, IDB, and CAF.

7.We are satisfied with the positive outcomes of this meeting. The Latin American and Caribbean side applauds and appreciates China's warm reception, hospitality and meticulous preparation for the meeting.

8. China appreciates the coordinating role Costa Rica has actively played as Pro Tempore Presidency in ensuring the success of the meeting and the active participation of the other CELAC member countries and wishes the Third CELAC Summit to be held in San José, Costa Rica on January 28^th and 29^th, 2015 a great success.

9. We agree that the Second Ministerial Meeting of the CELAC – China Forum will be held in Chile in January 2018.

CHINA-LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES COOPERATION PLAN (2015-2019)

The First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was held in Beijing on January 8^th and 9^th, 2015. Through equal and friendly consultations, the two sides have considered to adopt the China-Latin American and Caribbean Countries Cooperation Plan (2015-2019) as follows:

I. Policy and Security

1. Increase the exchanges of visits and meetings on multilateral fora between leaders of China and CELAC, as well as its member States, and improve dialogue and varied consultation mechanisms between the two sides. Make full use of the China-CELAC Forum as a platform.

2. Further expand the exchanges and collaboration between the National People’s Congress of China and the legislatures of CELAC countries and parliamentary organizations.

3. Consider to hold exchanges between political parties, local government and youth of China and CELAC countries. In this regard, China will invite 1,000 political leaders of CELAC countries to visit China in the next five years. Hold, in due course, the China-LAC Capital City Mayors’ Forum and the China-LAC Local Governments Cooperation Forum. China will continue to run the China-LAC Young Political Leaders' Forum.

4. Work together to enhance consular ties and collaboration between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of each other's enterprises and nationals, according to the national legislation of the participant countries.

5. Encourage more interaction between judicial institutions from China and the region, concerning judicial exchanges; expand cooperation in terms of mutual legal assistance in criminal and civil cases. The two sides agree to continue to run the China-LAC Legal Forum on a regular basis under the umbrella of the China-CELAC Forum.

6. Enhance cooperation to prevent, suppress and punish the smuggling of migrants and trafficking of persons, particularly women, children and teenagers, and protect the victims of such crimes, including by protecting their international and recognized human rights.

7. Enhance dialogue and collaboration on Internet governance and cyber security, work together to build an Internet space that features peace, security, openness and cooperation. Uphold the principles of the International Law in building multilateralism, multistakeholderism, democratic, and transparent global Internet governance system.

II. International Affairs

1. Strengthen dialogue and collaboration in international organizations and multilateral institutions such as the United Nations; based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and International Law, uphold the authority of the United Nations and its leading role in international affairs.

2. Enhance collaboration in global economic, trade and financial institutions, improve global economic governance, promote sustainable development with social inclusion and poverty eradication, and bolster the prosperity of global trade and sustainable development.

Strengthen dialogue and consultation on sustainable development, and other global issues, and call on the international community to intensify its work towards the drawing up of the Post 2015 Development Agenda, with the aim of effectively contributing, inter alia, to the eradication of poverty, hunger and illnesses of global impact.

Advance on the international negotiations on climate change, under UNFCCC, in accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

III. Trade, Investment and Finance

1. Further promote trade and investment between China and CELAC countries. Work together to increase trade in both directions and in a balanced and mutually beneficial way between China and CELAC countries to 500 billion US dollars, and raise the stock of reciprocal investment to at least 250 billion US dollars in 10 years, and CELAC´s stock of investment with particular emphasis in high technology and value added goods production.

2. Intensify cooperation, boost trade in services and e-commerce without prejudice to traditional trade, promote bilateral equitable trade and properly handle trade frictions in compliance with WTO rules and existing trade agreements between China and CELAC count

3. Stimulate the promotion and facilitation of investment, including through joint ventures and partnerships.

4. Support the running of the China-LAC Business Summit.

5. Encourage closer cooperation between micro, small and medium-sized enterprises of CELAC and China with a view to supporting the internationalization and integration of SMEs in global value chains.

6. Enhance collaboration in customs and quality inspection.

7. Enhance dialogue and collaboration between Central Banks and financial regulatory authorities.

8. Make good use of the China-LAC Cooperation Fund, China-LAC Special Loan for Infrastructure, concessional loans offered by China as well as other financial resources, to support the key cooperation projects between China and CELAC countries, in a manner consistent with the social, economic and environmental development needs of the CELAC region, as well as with sustainable development vision.

9. Strengthen cooperation between China and CELAC countries through financial institutions for development in the region.

IV. Infrastructure and Transportation

1. Foster infrastructure cooperation between China and CELAC countries and explore the possibility of inaugurating the China - LAC Infrastructure Forum in due time.

2. Promote infrastructure development in areas such as transportation, ports, roads and warehouse facilities, business logistics, information and communications technologies, broadband, radio and TV, agriculture, energy and power, and housing and urban development.

3. Encourage competent Chinese and CELAC´s enterprises to participate in key projects for the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean and the improvement of connectivity and intercommunication between China and CELAC countries.

V. Energy and Natural Resources

1. Foster a closer cooperation in energy between China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries and explore the possibility of inaugurating the China-LAC Energy and Mineral Resources Forum in due time.

2. Enhance collaboration in the energy and mineral sectors, including technological research and development, and sustainable use of natural resources, based on equality, overall reciprocity and mutual benefit, with close observance of applicable laws, regulations and best international practices, while respecting the full sovereignty over their natural resources.

3. Strengthen collaboration and investment in the electricity sector, including power generation, high and ultra-high voltage power transmission, water resources planning and development, bio-energy, solar, geothermal and wind power.

4. Promote training programs for technicians and experts in management and development of renewable energy.

5. Enhance collaboration to promote in CELAC countries the industrialization for value added goods.

VI. Agriculture

1. Continue to run the China-LAC Agricultural Ministers’ Forum.

2. Enhance and deepen agricultural collaboration, including livestock and forestry, as well as fisheries and acuaculture.

3. Promote the development and demonstration of modern agricultural technologies and strengthen countries collaboration in research and development (R&D;), as well as investment and development zones to advance agricultural technological innovation and increase agricultural production and processing capacity and international competitiveness of both sides.

4. Use the China-LAC special agricultural cooperation fund established at China's initiative to encourage the development of more agricultural cooperation projects.

5. Promote cooperation between China and LAC countries within the framework of the CELAC Road Map on Family Farming, approved by the I CELAC Ministerial Meeting on Family Farming, held in Brasilia, Brazil, on November 11^th, 2014.

6. Promote cooperation between the two sides, within the framework of the CELAC Plan for Food and Nutrition Security and Eradication of Hunger 2025.

VII. Industry, Science and Technology, Aviation and Aerospace

1. Explore initiatives to the joint construction of industrial parks, science and technology, special economic zones and high-tech industrial parks between China and CELAC countries, especially in research and development (R&D;) activities in order to improve industrial investment and the forming of industrial value chain.

2. Increase mutual investment in manufacturing industry to support the building of industrial zones under multilateral and bilateral initiatives, to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as construction equipments, petrochemicals, agricultural product processing, clean energies, mechanical equipments, automotive, aviation, ship and marine engineering equipments, transportation equipments, electronics, digital medical equipments, information and communication technology, the transfer of technology and know-how between the two sides, biotechnology, food and medicine. Explore the possibility of inaugurating the China-LAC Industrial Development and Cooperation Forum in due time.

3. Expand cooperation in the information industry in such fields as Internet and digital television, ICT Cluster Development, among others.

4. Strengthen inter-governmental scientific and technological dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between China and CELAC countries. Give consideration to holding the first China-LAC Scientific and Technological Innovation Forum in due time. Welcome China’s official launch of the "China-LAC Science and Technology Partnership" and "China-LAC Young Scientists Exchange Program".

5. Jointly apply space technologies in Integrated Risk Management and disaster prevention and reduction, evaluation of crop production, impacts of climate change, long distance learning and medical care, taking into consideration the interests and needs of small and vulnerable economies, in particular of Small Developing States.

6. Encourage effective cooperation between the civil aviation authorities and enterprises from both sides in discussing the opening of more air routes between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, and closer air links by means of code sharing, so as to promote an increase in tourism and closer links between the populations of CELAC member countries and China.

7. Increase the collaboration in the area of sustainable fuels for aviation, including renewable jet fuel from biomass.

VIII. Education and Human Resources Training

1. Promote exchanges, research mobility programmes and cooperation between education departments and institutions.

2. Enhance human resources development, capacity building, and collaboration in different areas. The Chinese side will provide CELAC countries with 6,000 governmental scholarships, 6,000 training opportunities and 400 opportunities for on-the-job master degree programs in China between 2015 and 2019.

3. The Chinese side will officially launch the ten-year training program for 1,000 young leaders from both sides entitled “Bridge of the Future” from 2015 and will continue to run the training program for young cadres of the region.

4. Promote Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, Portuguese language talents. The Chinese side encourages and supports primary and secondary schools of CELAC countries in opening Chinese language courses, including Chinese language teaching in local curriculum and CELAC encourages opening Spanish and English language courses and Spanish and English language teaching in China´s schools. CELAC countries, in turn, encourage Chinese efforts to promote language courses in the official languages of CELAC in Chinese schools.

5. Continue to promote the establishment and development of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in CELAC countries.

6. Implement technical cooperation projects in the field of institutional strengthening.

IX. Culture and Sports

1. Make joint efforts to hold the "Year of Cultural Exchanges between China and Latin America and the Caribbean” preferably in 2016, initiated by the Chinese side.

2. Promote the performance of outstanding art troupes and the showcasing of artwork from the two sides in international art festivals and visual art exhibitions held in China and the region. Encourage exchanges and cooperation in traditional as well as emerging art forms, and cultural and creativity industries.

3. Encourage collaboration in the protection of cultural heritage and the fight against theft, excavation, illegal entry and exit of cultural properties, among other areas. Jointly promote the strengthening of the 1970 UNESCO Convention of the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

4. Expand exchanges and cooperation in sports, encourage the participation of athletes from both sides in various types of sporting events, including the establishment of high performance sport centers.

X. Press, Media and Publication

1. Step up dialogue and cooperation between information departments of China and CELAC countries. Explore the signing of comprehensive agreements in radio, television and film.

2. Support collaboration between the news media, encourage the sending of resident correspondents, joint interviews, exchange of news and personnel training between news media from both sides. Encourage capable and influential network media of both sides to enhance collaboration in developing portals and building new media capacity. Welcome the landing of Chinese radio and television programs in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

3. Encourage cooperation between publishing industries and the translation and publication of literary works of China in the Community and of Latin American and Caribbean literature in China.

XI. Tourism

1. Strengthen dialogue and collaboration between governmental tourist departments of China and CELAC countries.

2. Encourage and assist governmental tourist departments and private and state-owned enterprises' participation in tourism promotions.

3. Promote two-way investment in tourism; encourage enterprises of both sides to jointly develop tourism projects.

4. Strengthen dialogue and collaboration between governmental consumer protection bodies of China and CELAC countries, focused on the protection of the consumer rights of international tourist.

XII. Environmental Protection, Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, Poverty Eradication and Health

1. Carry out cooperation on climate change within the framework of South-South cooperation, such as the promotion of low-carbon, high-quality at reasonable prices, energy-saving and renewable technologies to relevant countries.

2. Enhance collaboration in the protection of biodiversity and coastal ecological system, reserves management, environmentally sound technologies, water conservation, desertification combat and pollution control and treatment, among other issues, to improve the capacity for environment protection.

3. Enhance cooperation on natural disaster management, preparedness, prevention and risk reduction, and other impacts of climate change, inter alia, developing and sharing human and technological resources in the area.

4. Encourage and support cooperation between organizations such as Red Cross Society and coordinate efforts on humanitarian cooperation, supporting the work of organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

5. Promote dialogue and sharing of best practices between poverty and hunger reduction and social assistance agencies, taking into consideration the priority areas of the CELAC Action Plan for Public Social Policies.

6. Expand exchanges and collaboration in areas such as disease control, epidemics with regional or global impact, and public health emergency response.

XIII. People-to-People Friendship

1. Encourage exchanges between civil groups, academic institutions, and major think tanks of China and CELAC countries. Support the holding of the 5^th China-LAC People-to-People Friendship Forum to be held in September 2015 in Hangzhou. Continue supporting the celebration of Think-Tanks of China and CELAC countries Forum.

2. Deepen friendly cooperation between women organizations, and jointly promote gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women.

XIV. Implementation of initiatives

The Cooperation Plan will be implemented, under the principles of flexibility and voluntary participation, in accordance with the domestic policies and the provisions of the national legal system of each Party, and shall not affect any bilateral cooperation programs agreed upon by individual parties nor substitute the bilateral agreements, decisions and commitments set between the Parties.

In this regard, it is pertinent to establish agreed procedures for the formulation and follow-up of the programs, projects and initiatives of cooperation, related to all CELAC members.

The areas of Cooperation included in this Plan are indicative and not exclusive.

The implementation of concrete cooperation initiatives or the adoption of norms will be subject to specific negotiations between China and the interested Latin American and Caribbean countries. Any CELAC Member State may completely or partially refrain from participating in an approved initiative, be it for a period defined beforehand, or for an indefinite period, without preventing it from later joining the total or partial implementation of that initiative, with prior approval from China and the participant States.

In implementing this cooperation plan, due consideration will be given to the challenges and needs of the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States of CELAC.

China and the CELAC member States will continue holding consultations in order to complement and strengthen the contents of this cooperation programme, as well as its implementation.

CELAC COMMUNIQUE IN CONDEMNATION OF THE TERRORISTS ATTACKS PERPETRATED IN FRANCE
C.014

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) strongly condemns the terrorist and criminal act that took the life of 12 French nationals, employees of the French publication Charlie Hebdo, on January 7^th, 2015.

The CELAC member States reiterate their adamant rejection of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations that attempts against democratic principles. CELAC expresses its sincere condolences to the people and Government of France, as well as to the families of the victims, and awaits for the perpetrators to be brought to justice soon.

During the First Ministerial Meeting of the China - CELAC Forum, as a partner of dialogue and cooperation of CELAC, the People’s Republic of China supports this Communiqué.

January 9th, 2015

THE INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND OPERATING RULES OF CELAC-CHINA FORUM

The People's Republic of China and the member States of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC),

Desiring to formulate the Institutional Arrangements and Operating Rules of the CELAC – China Forum (CCF), in order to achieve better planning for the development of the CCF, and effectively implement in the future the cooperation initiatives and measures in different areas adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of the CCF,

We have agreed to adopt the Institutional Arrangements and Operating Rules of the CCF, as follows:

1. The CCF is defined as the platform for intergovernmental cooperation led by the Foreign Ministries of China and the member countries of CELAC, its main mechanisms include the Ministerial Meeting, the Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China and the "Quartet" of CELAC, and the Meeting of National Coordinators (Senior Officials' Meeting).

a. The Ministerial Meeting. Ministerial meetings will be held every three years in principle and by turns in China and the Presidency country of CELAC or another member country of CELAC agreed upon by CELAC and China, and ad hoc meetings may be held, when necessary. The Ministerial Meetings are mainly held to discuss ways to improve mutually beneficial cooperation between China and CELAC member countries, at the regional and sub-regional level, and review and adopt outcome documents such as decisions and action plans, all of which will serve as cooperation guidelines for the two sides. The Ministerial Meetings will be held in the official languages of CELAC and in Chinese. All official documents approved by the Ministerial Meeting level will be translated into the official languages of CELAC and Chinese. Working documents will be circulated in Spanish and English.

b. The Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China and the "Quartet" of CELAC. The two sides will continue to make good use of this dialogue mechanism, maintain discussions on the affairs of the CCF, as well as international and regional issues of common concern, including through meetings during the UN General Assembly sessions and mutual visits.

c. The Meeting of National Coordinators (Senior Officials' Meeting). The principal role is to make preparations for the Ministerial Meetings, follow-up the implementation of the outcomes of the Ministerial Meetings, and formulate stage-specific work plans for the CCF, considering their technical and financial feasibility, sustainability and impact, as well as the capacity and capability of member countries of CELAC. In principle, it will be held at least once a year by turns in China and the Presidency country of CELAC, or another CELAC member country agreed upon by CELAC and China. When in the CELAC region, the meeting will be held on the sidelines of the CELAC National Coordinators meeting.

d. At the appropriate time, the CCF will explore the possibility of incorporating Forums and meetings in specific fields, gradually and subject to the CELAC consensus. The date, venue and agenda of any of these forums will be agreed upon by the two sides in advance. The outcome of the forums will be reported for consideration to the Ministerial Meeting.

2. Other CELAC member countries may also express willingness to host the meetings on a voluntary basis. The host country will be decided upon through consultation.

3. The Ministerial Meetings and the Meetings of National Coordinators (Senior Officials' Meeting) will be organized by the host countries in coordination with CELAC´s PTP, which will be responsible for setting the meeting agenda, printing and distributing documents, translating speeches and documents of the meeting, and other technical work. The meetings will be co-chaired by CELAC´s PTP, the host country and China.

The side hosting the meeting will draft documents for the meeting according to the meeting agenda agreed upon by the two sides, submit the draft documents for review and revision by all member countries of the CCF, and present the final documents to the meeting for discussion and adoption. The PTP, in coordination with the host country, will conduct the negotiation of the referred documents within CELAC.

4. The Chinese side has established the Chinese Committee of the Follow-up Actions of the CCF, responsible for coordination among the Chinese institutions. The Secretariat of the Chinese Committee is at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

The Secretariat of the Chinese Committee, the CELAC PTP and CELAC member countries will coordinate to jointly implement the outcomes of the Ministerial Meetings of the CCF.

CELAC will define the procedures and mechanisms for the presentation of cooperation projects and regional initiatives to China.

5. On the basis of the Ministerial Meeting of the CCF and at a time agreed upon by both sides, both may discuss holding a Summit Meeting of leaders of China and the member countries of CELAC at a proper time, as the highest form of the overall cooperation between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. Summit meetings will be held in all official CELAC languages and Chinese. All official documents approved by the Summit will be translated into the official languages of CELAC and Chinese. Working documents will be circulated in Spanish and English.

For the consideration of cooperation projects or multilateral initiatives, understood as projects, which will have systematic impacts in the relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and China, in the framework of the CELAC-China Forum, the following principles should be met:

Correspond to the mutually agreed key areas of cooperation.
Contribute to effective regional integration and sustainable cooperation.
Be designed so that they have a multiplier effect for the CELAC member States and China.
Can be adapted to other member countries that express interest in the project
Make optimum use of capacities in the CELAC countries.

6. The Institutional Arrangements and Operating Rules may be amended at an appropriate time and in light of actual conditions by all the participant countries in the CFF through consensus.