21/08/2025
Brazilian expert urges stronger China-Latin America green cooperation
Stronger green partnerships between China and Latin America will accelerate environmental restoration while creating economic opportunities, a Brazilian expert said at an international development forum in China's southwest Yunnan province on March 29.
"Strengthening cooperation between Latin America and China on nature-based solutions can enhance ecological restoration, boost food security, and create resilient rural economies," said Douglas de Castro, a Lanzhou University professor, at the 2025 International Forum on Poverty Governance and Global Development (Nujiang Forum).
Nature-based solutions have emerged as an effective strategy to restore ecosystems and support rural livelihoods as the world faces climate change, land degradation and food insecurity, Castro said.
He highlighted Latin America's pioneering initiatives that balance environmental sustainability with economic development in rural communities, saying they could offer valuable insights for China's green development and rural revitalization goals.
Castro called for enhanced agricultural cooperation through knowledge exchange, technology transfer and joint projects.
He said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative provides a framework for collaboration that can be expanded to include nature-based programs such as reforestation, regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration projects. These programs would benefit rural economies in both Latin America and China, he added.
Food security remains a critical cooperation area, he stated. While China imports large quantities of Latin American agricultural products, climate change and other challenges threaten Chinese productivity. By investing in nature-based agricultural systems — including no-till farming, agroecology and climate-smart agriculture — China can secure long-term food supplies while supporting Latin American farmers, Castro explained.
"Green supply chains and sustainable trade agreements can further enhance agricultural resilience, ensuring stable food production without increasing deforestation or land degradation," he said.
Castro stressed that expanding nature-based cooperation between China and Latin America represents a win-win strategy for global sustainability.
"By integrating these principles into rural revitalization policies, both Latin America and China can enhance biodiversity conservation, increase agricultural productivity, and ensure food security while mitigating climate change," he said.
The forum, themed "Together Promote Rural Revitalization and Common Development," featured panel discussions and roundtables, where participants shared global poverty-reduction strategies.
