China as an Advocate of a New Global Agenda? Challenges, Tensions, and Opportunities in an Uncertain Global Order

Abstract

One of the most important and discussed issues in contemporary international relations is the rise of China and its consequences for the international order (Lima, 2019; Leite, 2018; Li & Shaw, 2018). In particular, throughout the 21st century, this country has officially started its going-out policy. At the beginning of this century, China intensified its actions around the world, strengthening its relations and prioritizing South-South cooperation (Vadell, 2019). At the same time, it has promoted, in the last twenty years, multiple bilateral and multilateral agreements, which are associated with initiatives such as the brics, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (bAii) and the China-Celac and China-Focac forums, for example. These agreements strengthen relations between China and the countries of Latin America and Africa, expanding their interactions and presence in different global markets.