An opinion piece in the South China Morning Post argues that China-South America relations will be shaped in neighborhoods and kitchens, not just presidential palaces or investment forums. While traveling in Buenos Aires recently, the author learned that 'chino' refers to mini-markets run by Chinese migrants from Fujian or Guangdong provinces. Argentines describe Chinese people as nice, hardworking, and reliable, but note they keep to themselves.
The South China Morning Post published an opinion article on February 18, 2026, titled 'Forging robust China-South America ties takes more than just trade,' which examines the deeper aspects of relations between China and South America. A few weeks ago, while traveling in Buenos Aires, the author learned a new meaning for the word 'chino'—a neighborhood mini-market run by Chinese migrants, most from Fujian or Guangdong province. These shops, known for staying open late, have become a fixture of urban life.
The piece notes there is even a Chinatown, Barrio Chino, located a short distance north of Palermo, drawing plenty of curious locals. Yet when the author asked Argentines what they thought of Chinese people, responses were strikingly consistent: “nice, hardworking, reliable.” This was followed by the qualifier: “but they keep to themselves. We don’t really know them.”
The article stresses that the path of China-South America relations will be decided in neighborhoods and kitchens, not just presidential palaces or investment forums. Keywords include trade, immigration, United States, Ecuador, Palermo, Las Bambas, Brazil, Chinatown, Fujian, Argentina, Bogota, Guangdong, South America, Peru, Chile, and China.
