Remarks by Comrade Laureano Ortega Murillo at the Opening Ceremony of the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit 2025

Remarks by Comrade Laureano Ortega Murillo at the Opening Ceremony of the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit 2025
November 3, 2025

Comrades He Baoxiang, Head of State, Vice Chairman of the Political Consultative Committee of the People's Republic of China; Comrade Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the CCPIT; Comrade Liu Ling, Secretary General of Henan Province, China. Dear friends, everyone.

First of all, allow me to convey the warm and fraternal greetings of the Co-Presidents of the Republic of Nicaragua, Commander Daniel Ortega and Comrade Rosario Murillo, to the President of the People's Republic of China, Comrade Xi Jinping; To the Communist Party of China, its people, its government, and all those attending this important event.

We are here to participate in this 18th China-Latin America and Caribbean Business Summit, in the historic city of Zhengzhou, in Henna Province.

We are here to strengthen these bonds of brotherhood between Nicaragua and China, bonds that are founded on the historic relationship of brotherhood between the Communist Party of China and the Sandinista National Liberation Front of Nicaragua.

Last year we had the honor of hosting this Summit for its 17th edition. It was a true honor that Nicaragua was selected to organize such a momentous event. It has included the participation of more than 450 Chinese businesspeople, and of course, the business community and governments of Latin America and the Caribbean.

We wish to reiterate on this occasion that Nicaragua firmly supports all the initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping: the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Governance Initiative—fundamental initiatives for equitable development with shared benefits for all peoples. But not only for these purposes, but also for the very preservation of the human species, of the human community.

In these turbulent times, all these initiatives offer us a glimmer of hope that we can move forward together toward a better future.

We also had the honor of participating in the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, China, in May, where President Xi presented the five cooperation programs, which we also fully and firmly support: the Solidarity Program, the Development Program, the Civilizations Program, the Peace Program, and the People-to-People Connectivity Program. These programs demonstrate President Xi Jinping's commitment to promoting the development of countries in the Global South and extending this cooperation to all our peoples, based on respectful, equal, non-interference, and unconditional treatment.

This is China's work for the world: promoting peace, promoting development, and promoting cooperation for the benefit of all.

Nicaragua and China have been developing their cooperative relations at an extraordinary pace in all fields, especially in economic and trade cooperation.

We re-established diplomatic relations in 2021, and in record time, we negotiated and signed a Free Trade Agreement that entered into force in 2024.

This has encouraged Chinese businesspeople and companies to come to Nicaragua and develop investments and trade in all sectors. We are also promoting the export of Nicaraguan products to the vast Chinese market.

We participate annually in the Shanghai International Import Expo, and we will be there again in the coming days. We are also developing projects with major Chinese companies across virtually all sectors in Nicaragua: infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, mining, fishing, agriculture, banking, finance, and industrialization.

We are convinced that, hand in hand with our Chinese brothers and sisters, we will eradicate extreme poverty in Nicaragua, following the example of the great Chinese people and President Xi Jinping, who have already achieved this here in China.

Nicaragua and Latin America, together with the great Chinese people, can also achieve this goal.

Today we also want to reiterate our firm condemnation and rejection of the policies of aggression being carried out by the US government and its European allies against China, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, and the free peoples of the world.

We firmly reject and condemn the so-called sanctions, economic terrorism, trade wars, and tariff wars, from which no one emerges victorious.

These are policies promoted by hegemonic powers, attempting to impose their imperial mentality and methods, as has always been the case. But thanks to the great progress achieved by the People's Republic of China, we have a brotherly nation here that stands up to these aggressions and joins the free peoples of the world in confronting them, uniting to move forward, fighting for our sovereignty, dignity, and full freedom.

We also want to reiterate our firm defense of the One China Principle. Nicaragua remains and will remain steadfast in defending this Principle in all organizations and forums where we share with the People's Republic of China. And we aspire to and have faith in the reunification of this great people.

Following up on the special relationship that exists between Nicaragua and China, and following the example of the major initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and in order to promote trade and investment with our brothers and sisters of the People's Republic of China, based on our Strategic Partnership—because our relationship is already a Strategic Partnership—our Government has approved, through the National Assembly, the Law that created the Belt and Road Initiative Special Economic Zones in Nicaragua.

Through this initiative, all companies, especially Chinese companies that establish themselves in Nicaragua under this regime, will be exempt from all taxes for the entire duration of their operations in our country. They will also have access to streamlined processes for setting up and operating their businesses in Nicaragua.

We will also have preferential rates for energy and industrial building permits, and the possibility of accessing state-owned land that can be allocated for investment programs and projects. Furthermore, we will have access to streamlined processes through One-Stop Shops that will handle port, maritime, and air operations.

This is because these are companies that are primarily dedicated to manufacturing, industrialization, and processing, aiming to increase productivity in our country for export purposes and thus generate thousands upon thousands of jobs for the Nicaraguan people.

Therefore, today, we want to invite the entire Chinese business community to take advantage of this new and innovative tool that our government has made available, following China's example.

We know that you have implemented this type of policy regime that incentivizes the creation of more jobs, investments, and economic and commercial dynamism. Therefore, we want to reiterate our gratitude for being considered to attend this Opening Ceremony. And we want to reiterate that we are brothers and sisters, and that we will support our Chinese brothers and sisters.

And to our Latin American brothers and sisters, let us stand united with our Chinese brothers and sisters to move forward toward the development and well-being of our peoples. May you all have success in your work during this Summit.

Thank you very much.

Source: 19 Digital