ABSTRACT

When evaluating the evolving relationship between China and Latin America, the year 2008 marked a challenging juncture. On the one hand, China issued its first white paper on policy priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), signalling a growing interest in the region at government level (State Council 2008). On the other hand, the global economic downturn and the sudden deterioration in the Chinese economy had broad implications for China’s relationship with LAC (Yardley 2008).