Abstract
<jats:p>The article analyzes the development of cooperation between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in the field of food security within the broader context of the Global South’s international structures. As one of the world’s largest agricultural exporters, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) represents a strategic partner for China, which over the past two decades has actively sought to diversify its external supplies and reduce the risks of one-sided dependence on traditional partners. The authors examine the evolution of the agrifood dialogue, the institutionalization of cooperation, and the formation of multilevel platforms (the China - CELAC Forum, specialized ministerial meetings, working groups, etc.), as well as the dynamics of trade and investment in the agricultural sector. Methodologically, the study draws on political economy and institutional approaches and employs the concept of the Global South. The theoretical framework incorporates liberal institutionalism and the theory of complex interdependence. Case study and process-tracing methods are applied to the China - CELAC relationship, alongside document analysis and descriptive statistics on trade and investment. The paper also explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on regional agrifood systems and the evolution of China’s food security policy, including the shift from the concept of grain self-sufficiency to the new “expanded food” doctrine, as well as the transformation of China’s approach to global food chains. The article identifies a new partnership model in which China views CELAC countries not only as an important source of raw materials, but also as a platform for technological, institutional, and investment innovation in the food sector. It concludes that a sustainable model of South - South cooperation is emerging - one capable of promoting sustainable development and adaptation to global challenges. The study further identifies the mechanisms for institutionalizing agrifood dialogue between the actors under consideration, assesses the achievements of this dialogue during the first decade of the Forum, and outlines prospects for further deepening cooperation in the global fight against hunger and food inequality.</jats:p>