At a Beijing forum this week, China has cast itself as defender of the multilateral order and backer of the Global South, with Xi pledging $9.2 billion in credit toward development.

China and Colombia have signed a joint cooperation plan on the Belt and Road Initiative, state media said on Wednesday after their leaders met in Beijing. Burgeoning commerce in recent years has helped grow Beijing's influence in Latin America and the Caribbean,

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with the foreign ministers and representatives of the Caribbean countries with diplomatic ties with China on May 12, 2025 in Beijing. Photo:

The United States should look more generously at Latin America and South America, Brazil Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said on Monday, arguing that the world's largest economy has "much to gain" from greater industrial development across the continent.

Simply sign up to the Chinese trade myFT Digest -- delivered directly to your inbox. China has criticised a trade deal between the UK and US that could be used to squeeze Chinese products out of British supply chains,