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"Only England during the Industrial Revolution Could Compare to China Now"

China Today by Michael Zárate, August 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), paid an official visit to China from February 28 to March 2 – the first ever formal visit to China by a secretary general of this organization. As the Uruguayan ambassador to China from 2007 to 2010, he witnessed the rapid development of Chinese society. Believing China would once again support him, this time as leader of the OAS, Mr. Almagro held an exclusive interview with China Today during his stay in Beijing.

Develop Bi-/Multi-lateral Relations

Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro.


China Today: Ambassador Almagro, you recently met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Could you tell us about some of the results of this meeting?

Luis Almagro: When I met Chinese officials, we mainly focused on how to promote relations between the OAS and China. For example, we were wondering if it was possible to establish an annual high-level political dialogue mechanism, and if it was workable for us to mutually implement a series of project plans. We hope China will participate more in the planned projects supported by the OAS.

China Today: What type of projects?

Luis Almagro: Such as government-funded public schools, building links within the Caribbean region, preventing and responding to natural disasters, educational systems in the Americas, and management mechanisms for social contradictions. China established relations with the OAS in 2004, and sent us a permanent representative, who later became your foreign minister, and now state councilor, Mr. Yang Jiechi.

China Today: State Councilor Yang Jiechi voiced support for China and the OAS strengthening cooperation. How could the OAS promote dialogue between China and the Americas?

Luis Almagro: Yang Jiechi has supported political dialogue between China and the OAS on behalf of the Chinese government, and China has participated in some of the organization’s key programs. In addition, China and the OAS have established a working framework upholding economic, trade and cooperative relations between China and Latin America, and resolving issues hand in hand. Based on this framework, the two parties could respond to challenges such as poverty, inequality, corruption, disease, climate change, water, energy, and natural disasters. Our recommendation to cement and reinforce this framework was supported by State Councilor Yang Jiechi, the Foreign Minister, and the deputy minister from the Ministry of Commerce.

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