by Xinhua writers He Yixuan, Xi Yue, Zhao Yanchao
CHANGZHOU, China, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cameras clicking and smartphones raised, a group of Latin American journalists moved through the production workshops of a Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, capturing robots at work and vehicles taking shape on the assembly line.
For some, the scene offered a glimpse into the technology behind Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) they had already seen on the streets back home. Thousands of kilometers away, Chinese-made EVs are becoming part of everyday life in Latin America, while charging facilities and power transmission projects are opening up new avenues for green cooperation.
During the 2026 Belt and Road Journalists Forum, dozens of journalists from Latin American countries visited Changzhou, known as China's "capital of new energy," to explore the industrial strengths behind China's green development and discover opportunities for cooperation with Latin America.
FROM FACTORY FLOORS TO EVERYDAY MOBILITY
For Rody Olivera, president of the Uruguayan Press Association, the visit was more than a tour of a manufacturing facility. Having purchased a Chinese NEV in May, he was eager to see how it was made. Inside the welding workshop at Li Auto's manufacturing base in Changzhou, he said the visit had confirmed that he had "made the right decision."
"The factory is impressive in terms of its size and productivity. Electric vehicles offer many advantages, as they provide a quieter driving experience, numerous driver-assistance features and greater comfort," Olivera said.
In his view, China's progress in the sector stems from both policy support and industrial capabilities. "China is a pioneer in this technology," he said, attributing the country's achievements to its innovation capabilities and the development of a complete industrial chain.
At the exhibition hall of Segway-Ninebot, a renowned electric two-wheeler maker, Angel Sanchez, president of the Federation of Journalists of Peru, recognized the company's electric scooters, saying they could offer a convenient transportation option for young people and office workers in Peru.
"They have many advantages, including quick responsiveness, flexible center-of-gravity control and a portable design," Sanchez said, adding that China's development of new energy and other emerging technologies ultimately aims to improve people's lives.
Such products offer a glimpse into the broader industrial ecosystem that has taken shape in Changzhou. Its industrial chain spans five areas: energy generation, storage, transmission, consumption and distribution networks. In 2025, the scale of the city's new energy industry exceeded 1 trillion yuan (about 150 billion U.S. dollars).
CONNECTING INDUSTRIAL STRENGTHS WITH LOCAL NEEDS
The city's industrial strengths extend from NEVs and key components to charging infrastructure and power transmission equipment, creating opportunities for cooperation across different stages of the energy transition.
At the exhibition area of charging infrastructure operator Star Charge, Virgilio Arias, president of Mexico's Front Page Club, stopped in front of a photograph showing an electric-bus charging station in Mexico City.
"I've just learned that this Chinese company has provided charging facilities for three Bus Rapid Transit lines in Mexico City and Monterrey, supporting the operation of more than 150 electric buses," Arias said.
The example highlighted how Chinese technologies are being applied to local transportation systems in Latin America. As Mexico and other countries in the region accelerate their energy transitions, cooperation in charging infrastructure and electric mobility could help address practical needs while advancing shared sustainable development goals, Arias said.
Green cooperation also extends beyond transportation to the infrastructure needed to transmit clean energy over long distances.
For Samira de Castro, president of the National Federation of Journalists of Brazil, a visit to NR Electric brought an unexpected connection to a project she had covered years earlier.
In 2012, she wrote a report on Brazil's Belo Monte hydropower project. During her visit in Changzhou, she learned that the company's technology had been used in the project's second-phase ultra-high-voltage transmission system.
Now operational, the transmission project helps deliver hydropower from northern Brazil to distant consumption centers, including areas serving Rio de Janeiro. Castro said the advanced technology had made a significant contribution to Brazil's electricity supply and changed the lives of local residents.
TURNING SHARED GOALS INTO GREEN COOPERATION
"There is an ecosystem of companies here that are collaborating to advance clean energy. Renewable energy is the future, and it is happening right here, right now," said Geraldo Cantarino, a member of the Brazilian Press Association, during his first visit to China.
For Latin American countries with diverse energy resources and growing demand for cleaner development, cooperation with China could create further opportunities in equipment manufacturing, infrastructure construction and the application of new energy technologies.
For the journalists visiting Changzhou, the trip offered a closer look at the industrial capabilities underpinning China's new energy development and their potential relevance to Latin America. From EVs and smart mobility products to charging networks and power transmission systems, the examples they encountered demonstrated how green cooperation can take shape across an interconnected industrial chain.
As the visit drew to a close, the journalists took away more than photographs of production lines, electric scooters and power transmission equipment. They had also gained a firsthand understanding of how technologies developed in a Chinese industrial hub could connect with the green development ambitions of countries across Latin America.
For Castro, the next step was to share these observations with a wider audience.
"As a journalist, I hope to tell more people the stories of China-Latin America cooperation in the new energy sector, so that the world can see China's commitment to high-quality development, openness and cooperation," she said. ■
