That should cause no surprise. Win-win cooperation is booming between the world's largest developing country and the increasingly dynamic emerging-market region because it accords with the needs and aspirations of both sides.

More importantly, that is no ground for complacency. The two sides have only picked up the low-hanging fruit, and much more is waiting for them to harvest by cooperating more broadly, deeply and creatively.

For starters, China and Latin American countries are yet to give full play to their complementary economic advantages. China's deep coffers and advanced technology and Latin America's enormous wealth of natural resources are still in need of the right recipe for them to unleash their full potential.

Meanwhile, the two sides should close ranks more tightly in the building of an equitable world order as well as in the battles against climate change and other global challenges.

In order to better promote China-Latin America cooperation, it is advisable that dialogue and cooperation mechanisms be established between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States as soon as possible.

China's sincerity is genuine and its commitment steadfast, as can be demonstrated by the facts that Beijing firmly supports the integration of Latin American and Caribbean countries and that Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying his second visit to the region since taking office in March last year.

So Xi's upcoming meeting with Latin American leaders is worth looking forward to. It presents a great opportunity for the two sides to further cement mutual understanding and trust and chart the course for future cooperation.

For Latin America, the summit has an extra layer of meaning: It will infuse fresh vigor into its historic transformation from the "backyard" of the United States to a vanguard in global development.