A Chinese teacher smells a cup of tea at a tea ceremony in Buenos Aires in Argentina on Sep 25, 2015. It was the second Confucius Institute Day and the Institute of the Universidad de Buenos Aires offered a one-stop experience of Chinese culture. [Photo/Xinhua]

The year of 2015 has been an important one for the development of China-Latin America relations, when cultural exchanges became the highlight of bilateral ties.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made official visits to four South American countries in May this year, bringing significant achievements on practical cooperation and cultural exchanges.

As another major diplomatic event following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the region last year, Li's visit has further advanced China-Latin America ties in a new "five-in-one" model.

SHINING LITERARY EXCHANGES

Li pointed out during his visit that the cooperation between China and Latin America is not only at the material level but at the spiritual level as well and the latter is worth more attention.

The powerful role of literature should be emphasized in realizing spiritual communication between the two sides, according to Li.

"Strengthening exchange and mutual learning in literary and art circles between China and Latin America will help promote the people-to-people spiritual communication and establish solid public opinion foundation for continuously deepened practical cooperation," Li said.

Chinese writers for the first time accompanied the visit, including Nobel Prize laureate Mo Yan, bestselling spy-thriller writer Mai Jia, and Chinese Writers Association Chairwoman Tie Ning.

They attended a seminar in Colombia on cultural exchanges between China and Latin America and spoke to audience including Premier Li and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

Taking the examples of Mo Yan and the famous Columbian noble prize winner Garcia Marquez, Tie Ning spoke highly of the role of literature in promoting cultural ties.

She also proposed the plan to facilitate translation on China and Latin American literature works so as to further promote their mutual understandings.