China on Wednesday said it will actively carry out military exchanges and defense dialogue and cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries.

According to the China's Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, the two sides would increase cooperation on peace, security and judicial affairs.

Mutual visits by defense and military officials of the two sides as well as personnel exchanges will be enhanced, professional exchanges in military training, personnel training and peacekeeping will be deepened, and practical cooperation in the non-traditional security field will be expanded, the paper says.

The Chinese side will, as its ability permits, continue to provide assistance for the development of the army in Latin American and Caribbean countries, it says.

As to the cooperation in judicial and police affairs, the Chinese side will steadily expand its cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries in judicial affairs, judicial assistance in criminal and civil matters and extradition in particular.

Cooperation in information sharing, penalty enforcement and legal services will be strengthened. Concerted efforts in law enforcement involving the interior and police departments of relevant countries will be stepped up to jointly combat transnational organized crimes including drug crimes and economic crimes, the paper says.

Intelligence and technological exchanges will be strengthened, with bilateral and multilateral exchange mechanisms put in place, so as to share information on illegal immigration and improve the capacity for its prevention, it says.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Government will further its exchanges and cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries on non-traditional security issues by increasing information sharing and personnel exchanges and explore effective ways to deepen cooperation on non-traditional security issues such as combating terrorism, so as to jointly improve the capacity to respond to non-traditional security threats, according to the paper.

The paper also illustrates China's cooperation policy with Latin American and Caribbean countries in the cultural and social aspects, saying that cooperation will be enhanced in such areas as culture, sports, science, technology, education, medical and health care, media, environmental protection, combating climate change, social security, disaster reduction, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and poverty alleviation.

As to China's relations with Latin American and Caribbean regional organizations, the Chinese Government appreciates the important role of Latin American and Caribbean regional and sub-regional organizations in safeguarding peace and stability in the region, and promoting regional solidarity, development and integration.

The Chinese government supports these organizations in exerting their influence in regional and international affairs, and the Chinese side will continue to strengthen communication, consultation and cooperation with relevant organizations in various fields, the paper says.

This was the Chinese government's first-ever policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2008)