China and Latin America have made great progress in collaboration in infrastructure and agriculture and there is still huge potential to tap between the two sides in technological cooperation, including new energy, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles, Zhou said.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the BRI has also sparked significant cultural exchange and understanding. Exhibitions like the Terracotta Warriors showcased in Colombia in 2006 have kindled interest in Chinese culture among local residents.

Strengthening cultural exchanges and mutual understanding is a crucial aspect of the China-Latin America relationship, said Luis Diego Monsalve, former Colombian ambassador to China.

He said the exhibition of the Terracotta Warriors in Colombia in 2006 sparked greater interest in Chinese culture among locals. The profound influence of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's literature, particularly One Hundred Years of Solitude, resonates deeply with Chinese readers, further bridging the cultural divide, he added.