Xinhua News Agency, Mexico City, September 14th Summary｜Crossing mountains and seas, paving the way for dreams—China-Latin America educational cooperation enters the fast lane
Xinhua News Agency reporters Chen Weihua Zhang Tuo Wu Meng
From Latin America’s first Sino-foreign co-established Chinese liberal arts major opening in Brazil, to the opening of the first Luban Workshop in the Americas in Nicaragua, to the Chinese government scholarship winners from many countries embarking on their study tours in China... In recent years, educational cooperation between China and Latin American countries has entered a fast lane, paving the way for Latin American youth to grow, adding vitality to China-Latin America cultural exchanges, and injecting youthful power into the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Latin America.
University cooperation to build bridges and pave the way
Exchanges between Chinese and Latin American universities and think tanks have become increasingly close, promoting the in-depth development of educational cooperation. In August this year, Latin America’s first Chinese language and culture undergraduate program jointly established by Chinese and foreign universities opened at the State University of São Paulo in Brazil, marking the entry of Chinese education in Latin America into a new stage of academic education and professional talent training.
This major is jointly developed by Hubei University and the State University of São Paulo in Brazil. The first batch of students will enroll 40 freshmen. Students can go to Hubei University for exchange and study. After meeting academic standards, they can obtain degrees from both parties. Mayisa Forlan, president of São Paulo State University, said that the establishment of this major will further expand exchanges between universities in Brazil and China and cultivate more professional talents for the two countries to deepen cooperation in multiple fields.
At the same time, transnational research and study cooperation provides a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary communication platform for young people from China and Latin America. Starting in 2024, Tsinghua University and Latin American university partners will jointly launch the "Chinese and Latin American Youth Respond to Global Challenges-Poverty Reduction Camp" project. Young people from China and Latin America have learned from China's rural revitalization experience and proposed innovative poverty reduction plans for multiple poverty scenarios in Latin America.
Since the beginning of this year, youth talent exchange activities such as the China-Brazil Youth Science and Technology Innovation Leadership Camp and the China International University Student Innovation Competition have been held one after another. The Chinese and Latin American youth team proposed solutions based on real needs and looked for partners in cross-border reviews, project roadshows and exchanges.
Héctor Chávez, vice president of the Graduate School of the University of Santiago in Chile, said that young scholars’ cross-cultural and interdisciplinary cooperation on the development gap in Latin American countries and the integration of China’s poverty reduction experience with Latin American reality are important manifestations of “knowledge diplomacy” between Latin America and China.
"Scientific and technological innovation has become a new common language for the youth of Latin America and China, adding new youth power to cooperation in science and technology, education and humanities between Latin America and China." said Caesar Martins, Vice President of São Paulo State University.
“Teach a man to fish” empowers development
Vocational education is becoming a new highlight of China-Latin America education cooperation. From agricultural schools to Luban workshops, Chinese experience and technology are being continuously transferred to Latin American fields and production lines.
In Barbados, the Hope Agricultural School built with China's aid is becoming the cradle of modern agricultural talent training. The school has a teaching farm covering an area of about 18 hectares, equipped with teaching facilities such as livestock breeding, greenhouse planting, and vertical agriculture, and offers courses such as climate-smart agriculture, modern planting and harvesting, and pest control. The school not only recruits high school graduates, but is also open to farmers. It has already enrolled the first batch of 250 students.
“This will help us educate a new generation of farmers,” said Barbados Minister of Training and Higher Education Sandra Husbands. In her view, it is hoped that the completion of the agricultural school will respond to Pakistan’s urgent need to cultivate more modern agricultural talents who understand technology and are good at management, and will help promote the country’s ability to enhance food security.
Programming, automation, computer-aided design... At the Luban Workshop in Nicaragua, a group of local young people are receiving vocational skills training in the computer field.
This is the first Luban workshop in the Americas. It opened at the end of last year and was jointly built by Tianjin Vocational and Technical Normal University, Tianjin Bohai Vocational and Technical College and the National Technical Training Agency of Nicaragua. It offers majors such as Internet of Things application technology, electrical automation technology, mechatronics technology, machinery manufacturing and automation, opening the door to advanced technology for local youth.
“There are many opportunities to improve programming skills here. I am developing an agricultural monitoring system, and the Internet of Things courses here are very helpful to me.” Justin, a student at the National University of Engineering in Nicaragua, said.
Esmeralda Aguilar, deputy director of the Vocational Training Bureau of Nicaragua's National Technical Training Agency, said that Luban Workshop's courses are unique in Nigeria's national education system. The complete teaching facilities enable students to experience real industrial scenarios and closely integrate them with practice. "We hope that through educational cooperation between Nigeria and China, we can promote the growth of young people and contribute to the development of local society."
Scholarship builds dreams and lights up life
In the mountainous area of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, 18-year-old Alex Reyes, who has just received a Chinese government scholarship, is excitedly preparing for the start of school. He will first complete the language preparatory course in China and then pursue a bachelor's degree in architecture. Reyes said that he hopes to bring advanced architectural concepts and technologies back to his hometown through studying in China.
"Thank you China for giving us such a precious opportunity, which will change our family's destiny." Reyes' mother Brenda Dias said.
In May 2025, in order to deepen the development of the China-CELAC Forum, China and CELAC member states jointly formulated an action plan, including that China will provide 3,500 Chinese government scholarships and 10,000 training places in China to CELAC member states from 2025 to 2027.
Today, Latin American young people are increasingly interested in studying in China. A broader vision, better education, and more advanced technology attract Latin American students to seek development opportunities in China.
In Colombia, there are more than 400 applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship from 2026 to 2027, far more than the number of admissions. Francisco Fonseca, who is about to study for a master's degree in political science in China, said that Chinese education is rigorous and pragmatic and very globally competitive. "I look forward to learning more about China and making more contributions to cooperation between the two countries in the future."
For Mancero, a young Ecuadorian, studying in China is "a new starting point in life." He is studying for a master's degree in Chengdu and looks forward to learning advanced technologies such as carbon capture, utilization and storage in China, and helping Ecuador improve the efficiency of crude oil extraction after returning to China. For Mancero, the career path ahead is becoming increasingly clear.
“Latin America-China educational cooperation is of far-reaching significance, as it not only cultivates talents, but also promotes the exchange and sharing of development experience.” said Ricardo Matamoros, vice president of international relations at the National Autonomous University of Honduras.
