Kissinger Institute

.@CindyArnson on fmr Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments on #China's investments in Latin America "Against this narrative which posits #LatAM as a place of great power competition...is a contrasting view from #LatAM countries themselves- not of a threat, but opportunity"

.@jorgeheinel: "China is the largest trading partner for Brazil, Chile and Peru, and second largest for many others...So when I hear the argument for Latin America to reconsider the relationship with China, even if countries wanted to, they wouldn't be able to"

According to @jorgeheinel , 25% of agricultural imports to #China come from countries within the Southern Cone (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay).

.@IIEPGW's Maggie X Chen: "Overall, #China's outward direct investment goes to developed countries, but it is increasing investment in developing countries as well." Adds that non-#BeltandRoad countries make up majority of overall outflows

Maggie Chen: "There is a significant and positive synergy between general investment and infrastructural activity," finds that a 10% increase in construction contracts corresponds with uptick in FDI activity #BeltandRoad #China

Chen argues that entry into markets "can facilitate economic growth", but adds that FDI needs to be supplemented with institutional reforms improving business environments, or infrastructure reforms

.@LATAMProg Fellow Stephen Kaplan discusses finance of Chinese FDI, contextualizing #LatAm interests in "remnants of austerity" in the aftermath of past recessions. Chinese financing "lacks policy conditionality," providing alternative creditor options.