LIMA — The 2024 Forum on Dialogue between the Civilizations of China and Latin America and the Caribbean, or LAC, was held on Wednesday in Lima, Peru, attracting more than 150 representatives, including government officials, scholars and business leaders from China and more than 10 Latin American countries.

The event focused on the theme"Civilizational Heritage and Modern Development," exploring ways to deepen cultural exchange, collaboration, and joint modernization efforts between China and LAC.

Peru's Secretary of the Secretariat of Government and Digital Transformation Cesar Vilchez Inga highlighted the long-standing ties between Peru and China, which enjoy broad opportunities for collaboration in digital transformation, with the Chancay Port project serving as a model.

Rebecca Lemos Igreja, secretary-general of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, praised the partnership between Latin America and China as a model for cross-civilizational dialogue through research and knowledge exchange.

The Chinese side called for joint efforts to preserve cultural heritage while embracing innovation and said that China and Latin America should pursue high-quality partnerships that benefit broader populations.

The 2024 China-LAC dialogue between civilizations was guided by China's State Council Information Office, Peru's Ministry of Culture, and the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino).

Also on Wednesday, the launch ceremony for Peru's China Hour TV program and China Audiovisual Month was held in Lima.

In a congratulatory message, Eduardo Salhuana Cavides, president of the Congress of Peru, emphasized that cultural exchanges between China and Peru will yield even more fruitful results and play an active role in enhancing mutual understanding and promoting friendly relations between the two peoples.

Peruvian Congressman Segundo Quiroz Barboza expressed his eagerness for the China Hour to become a new highlight in the cultural exchange between the two countries.

The launch of China Hour will bring dozens of high-quality Chinese audiovisual programs to the Peruvian audience.