Academic and Cultural Exchanges

The ninth panel of the International Forum China – Latin America: Perspectives and Debates brought together researchers from Colombia, the United Kingdom, and Ecuador to examine training and research initiatives, as well as institutional experiences aimed at narrowing the knowledge gap on China in Latin America. Through case studies and comparative analysis, the presentations explored the challenges, opportunities, and complexities of educational and cultural ties between the two regions.

Sebastián Castaño (Fundación Andrés Bello, Colombia) presented the talk “Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Regional Training Experiences for Understanding China in Latin America.” Drawing on training programs conducted by the foundation across the region, he shared key findings regarding the limited understanding of China among sectors such as the media and public policymakers. His presentation emphasized the challenges of fostering an objective narrative about China and proposed tools to support more rigorous and well-informed media coverage of Chinese activities in the region.

Pablo Morales (London School of Economics, United Kingdom) delivered the presentation “Training Courses for Latin American Journalists in China: A Beijing Strategy to Improve Its Image in the Region.” Based on 35 interviews with journalists from 15 countries, his research analyzed the experiences and perceptions stemming from training trips organized by Chinese institutions between 2012 and 2024. Morales proposed a typology of three journalist profiles—“converts,” “negotiators,” and “skeptics”—to explain the nuanced reception of China’s international communication strategy in Latin America.

José Salazar (Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador) presented the talk “Development Perspectives in Learning the Chinese Language and Culture: The Experience of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito.” His presentation highlighted the efforts of USFQ and the Chinese Culture Institute in promoting the study of Chinese language, literature, and philosophy, with a special focus on classical thought. Salazar also reflected on the role of Confucius Institutes in the region and the ongoing need to deepen academic knowledge of Chinese culture to strengthen interregional ties and foster mutual understanding.

Together, the presentations addressed structural limitations in the study of China in Latin America, the diversity of educational and communication strategies, and the broader implications of China’s growing presence in the region from a cultural and academic perspective.