Written by David Shambaugh, Director of the China Policy Program at George Washington University, from International Herald Tribune:
History might mark the meeting last weekend of the Group of 20 nations in Washington as formal anointment of China as a major world economic power. On the heel of that historic meeting, President Hu Jintao of China heads south to Latin America to mark another milestone in China’s growing power and influence.
While the principal purpose of the trip is to join 21 other leaders at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Lima, Hu’s tour highlights China’s growing ties in the region. Since his last Latin American tour in 2004, China has burst onto the regional stage with a flurry of investments, trade, military exchanges and diplomacy.
Read also China deepens Latin America ties by James Painter.
