The booth of national pavillion of Honduras at CIIE Photo: Qi Xijia/GT

Despite the large geographical distance between China and the Latin America and Caribbean regions, more regional countries have shown increased enthusiasm at exploring opportunities in the Chinese market during the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE), with the China-Latin America trade volume hitting a record high of $485.8 billion in 2022. 

Companies from Latin American and Caribbean countries displayed their products at the expo, and expressed high hopes in the Chinese market and the possibility of attracting more investment from China, the Global Times learned. 

Honduras, a Central American country that established diplomatic relations with China more than half a year ago, joined the "circle of friends" of the CIIE for the first time and became one of the main guests of honor of the national exhibition.

More than 40 Honduran enterprises in coffee, cigar, red wine, seafood, and other characteristically Honduran industries participated in the Expo, alongside those in tourism, investment, and other fields. The Honduran government is also working to introduce quality products such as cigars, melons, and cocoa into the Chinese market, according to media reports. 

As an "old friend" of the CIIE, Colombia has participated in several events in the past. Since the first session of the CIIE, the country has been an active participant and expressed their confidence in the great opportunities to be found in the Chinese market. Many of Colombia's products have also been recognized and favored by Chinese consumers.

Cuba is also a Latin American country that has participated, for six consecutive years, in the CIIE, which is considered to be a platform to further consolidate the close economic ties and unbreakable friendship between the two countries and enhance bilateral economic ties, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz told the Global Times in an exclusive interview recently. 

Cuba and China have taken advantage of the CIIE to sign a number of cooperation agreements, including in biotechnology and other fields. In addition, Cuba is seeking to promote local products such as cigars and rum to Chinese consumers.

Ahead of the CIIE, the Chinese and Latin American business communities jointly released the "China-LAC Business Cooperation Beijing Initiative," which aims to promote cooperation in the digital economy, agriculture, culture and tourism, as well as the green economy. The initiative aims to build a China-LAC community with a shared future, including promoting digital economic development, advancing agricultural cooperation, enhancing tourism and cultural exchanges, and exploring the green economy.