Interview: LatAm, China have similar, intertwined dreams

The Chinese dream and Latin American dream are surprisingly similar in that both stress independence and prosperity, said David Castrillon, a Colombian scholar of Asian studies.

"I find the Chinese dream and the Latin American dream have much in common," Castrillon, who teaches at the External University of Colombia, told Xinhua in a recent interview as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is in the region for a four-nation tour.

Having grown up in a cosmopolitan family with a grandmother of Chinese descent, a Colombian father and an American mother, Castrillon seems to be born to look at things from an international perspective. Nevertheless, his understanding of the Chinese dream was molded gradually.

"Upon hearing of it, I thought it was similar to what people think of the American dream," he said. "I didn't know what it truly means until I researched it."

In November 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping articulated a vision for China's future, the Chinese dream, which includes both national and personal aspirations.

In his eyes, the Chinese dream "concerns a prosperous country, a revitalized nation and a happy people," said the scholar, while noting that the American dream focuses on personal success.

Castrillon, who learned Chinese and studied Chinese culture at China's Nanjing Normal University and Fudan University, is well informed about the changes that have been going on in the Asian country.

"After more than three decades of high-speed growth since the reform and opening-up, China is now working hard for a successful economic transition," he said.

"And Colombia, with progress in its peace talks with the rebels, is also at a crucial moment to heal civil war wounds and further boost the economy," he added.

As for Latin America, with its history of European colonization and American exploitation, huge income disparity and economic dependence, among other problems, challenges remain across the continent, he said.

Latin America's current top priority, he stressed, is to restructure the economy and promote national capabilities, which can only be accomplished in a collective context.

The Chinese dream and China's experiences are relevant for this, and should be valued, the scholar said.

"For many reasons, we are still far away from realizing the Latin American dream," despite the efforts made by generations of Latin Americans since revolutionary leader Simon Bolivar launched the independence movement, he noted.

Latin America and China have similar dreams, hence they are in "a community of common destiny," he said, adding that they should seize the opportunity to further broaden their cooperation and achieve sustainable development. Endi