China boosts image at nonaligned summit

China plans to give its growing economic and political clout a boost at the Nonaligned Movement summit in Havana, an opportunity the US passed on when it declined an invitation to attend as an observer, AP reported. The Chinese delegation led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi plans to meet with a number of Latin American countries to strengthen ties to the region. The International Monetary Fund says China's imports from Latin America multiplied five times between 2000 and 2004 to hit US$20.3 billion, while exports tripled to US$15.4 billion. China's trade with Latin America is a small portion of the total but the country's relentless search for raw materials may give the relationship much more weight.