Leaders and officials from Latin America and the Caribbean have descended on the Chinese capital for the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum. Beijing has stepped up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in recent years and has urged a united front against US President Donald Trump's recent maelstrom of tariffs.

The China-CELAC Forum began in Beijing on Tuesday, May 13, with Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting leaders from Latin American and Caribbean countries. Among them were Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,

Colombia formally agreed on Wednesday to join China's vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, as Beijing draws Latin America closer in a bid to counter the US.

China’s President Xi Jinping said President Trump’s trade policy would backfire, a day after U.S. and Chinese negotiators signed a deal to lower mounting tariffs. “There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars.