China said on Monday that countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are sovereign nations with the right to independently choose their development paths and cooperation partners.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked how China would safeguard its partnerships and investments in the region after United States President Donald Trump warned that the US would not allow hostile foreign forces to gain a foothold in the Western Hemisphere during a meeting last week with more than a dozen leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Guo said China has always carried out exchanges and cooperation with LAC countries in various fields based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation.

China-LAC cooperation does not involve geopolitical calculations, is not directed against any third party, and should not be disrupted or affected by third parties, he added.