Bilateral relations with Nicaragua upgraded

China and Nicaragua announced on Wednesday the establishment of a bilateral strategic partnership, a move that observers said is fresh evidence of the growing confidence among many Latin American nations regarding their win-win collaboration with China based on mutual respect.

Beijing and Managua restored diplomatic relations in 2021 after Nicaragua severed "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan, leading to what officials on both sides called "major progress in political mutual trust, practical cooperation and unity in multilateral contexts".

During a telephone conversation with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Wednesday, President Xi Jinping praised Ortega's political decision to restore diplomatic relations two years ago and his "significant contribution to China-Nicaragua ties".

Xi voiced his readiness to work with Ortega to take the establishment of the bilateral strategic partnership "as a new starting point" to carry forward the relationship between the two countries for new results and to build a model of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit.

The phone conversation and a joint statement issued by the two countries on Wednesday underlined "staunch mutual support on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns".

Nicaragua said in the statement that it firmly opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form and firmly supports all efforts by the Chinese government to realize national reunification.

China said it "staunchly supports Nicaragua in advancing its major domestic political agenda in a steady manner, and resolutely opposes interference by external forces in Nicaragua's internal affairs".

As a milestone of two-way cooperation, a bilateral free trade agreement between the two countries was signed on Aug 31, after its speedy negotiation started in July last year. The FTA will take effect on Jan 1.

Xi said the two sides should "take this as an opportunity to continuously boost the scale and level of bilateral trade".

The joint statement said that China "welcomes more products with distinct features of Nicaragua to enter the Chinese market", and Nicaragua is ready to utilize platforms such as the China International Import Expo to expand its exports to China.

Two-way trade has recovered significantly over the past two years. According to the General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade worth $760 million was registered between China and Nicaragua last year.

Ivan Adolfo Acosta Montalvan, Nicaragua's minister of finance and public credit, told Chinese media earlier this month that Nicaragua has included more than 90 percent of its products in the FTA, which will surely have far-reaching impacts on the future.

Speaking of multilateral cooperation, Xi said that China and Nicaragua should strengthen solidarity and cooperation in international affairs and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

In the joint statement, the two countries also expressed their common rejection of hegemony and power politics, saying that they "resolutely oppose the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues".

During his phone conversation with Xi, Ortega said that Nicaragua sincerely appreciates China's support in safeguarding Nicaragua's sovereignty and independence, as well as China's help in developing its economy and improving people's livelihoods.

This year, Nicaragua has received 500 buses made by Chinese companies. Last month, Chinese Ambassador to Nicaragua Chen Xi attended a handover ceremony for the second shipment of wheat and urea, the production of which was assisted by China.

Ortega praised China's significant contributions to helping people in developing countries and improving their well-being, and said that Nicaragua supports global cooperation initiatives put forward by President Xi, such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xu Yicong, a researcher at the China Foundation for International Studies and a former Chinese ambassador to Cuba, said the bilateral strategic partnership forged on Wednesday "is part of the fresh progress achieved in the friendly cooperation and relations between China and the whole Latin American region".

"In recent years, China has effectively carried out its proposals and visions, such as building the China-Latin America community of shared future and boosting synergies of development visions," Xu said.

The fact that countries such as Panama and Honduras have built diplomatic relations with China shows the growing faith among the region's countries and China's increasing appeal to them, he added.