On Thursday, July 22nd 2021, Plataforma CIPÓ Executive Director Adriana Erthal Abdenur took part in a discussion organized by the U.S. Institute of Peace about the China-Venezuela relationship, speaking about the role China could realistically play in support of a negotiated political settlement in Venezuela.
For the past five years, Venezuela has suffered through persistent political and economic crises that have led to chronic shortages of food, fuel, electricity and running water. More than 5 million people have fled, triggering a refugee crisis in neighboring countries. China is currently Venezuela’s richest and most powerful international partner and could play a greater role than any other external actor in helping to stabilize Venezuela.
Based on research by CIPÓ, Dr. Abdenur noted three ways in which China could engage more constructively with the Venezuelan refugee crisis:
a) via the UN system;
b) through regional arrangements;
c) through sustainable investments in the region.
Speakers:
- Keith Mines, Director, Latin America Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace
- Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Executive Director, Plataforma CIPÓ
- Marialbert Barrios, Deputy, Primero Justicia, National Assembly of Venezuela
- Matthew Ferchen, Research Fellow, Leiden University
- Yuan Mengqi, Researcher, China-Latin America Issues, Institute for International and Area Studies, Tsinghua University
- Joseph Tucker, Senior Expert, Greater Horn of Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace
- Embaixador Thomas A. Shannon Jr., U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, 2016-2018
- Moderator: Henry Tugendhat, Senior Policy Analyst, China, U.S. Institute of Peace
