China and Latin America Young Scholars Program

With support from the Henry Luce Foundation, the Inter-American Dialogue’s Asia & Latin America program, in cooperation with Columbia University’s Initiative for Policy Dialogue, is pleased to announce this year’s cohort of China and Latin America Young Scholars. These up-and-coming opinion leaders will participate in a series high-level meeting on China-Latin America relations over the next three years and engage in collaborative research on timely policy issues. A series of papers authored by the young scholars will be published by the Inter-American Dialogue in 2018.

Pedro Henrique Batista Barbosa (Brazil)

Pedro Henrique Batista Barbosa is a Brazilian diplomat. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Politics at Renmin Univeristy in Beijing, China. He has served in the Ministry of External Relations since 2010, being responsible for fostering Brazil-China relations. His academic work has appeared in several publications, including his recent edited volume on Brazil-Asia relations. He holds a M.A. in Diplomacy from Brazil’s Diplomatic Academy, and a degree in Law from Catholic University of Rio. He speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and Chinese.

Natalia Cote-Muñoz (United States/Colombia)

Natalia Cote-Muñoz is a student in Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where she is completing her M.A. in Public Policy. Her work on security and human rights in Latin America has been published and/or referenced by the SAIS Review, the United Nations Development Programme, and Huffington Post, among other media outlets. She was a Princeton in Asia Fellow at China Foreign Affairs University, and has worked in a variety of institutions including the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy and the Council on Hemispheric Affairs. She holds a B.A. in Political Science with honors from Swarthmore College. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French, and proficient in Chinese.

Huang Siran (China)

Huang Siran is a researcher for SunTao Co., where she analyzes the performance and social impact of Chinese firms in Latin America. She is co-founder and secretary general of the Community of Chinese and Latin American Studies (CECLA), a joint Chinese and Latin American non-governmental organization tasked with enhancing bilateral academic and cultural communication and research. She holds a M.A. in Latin American Studies from Simon Fraser University, a M.A. in Translation and Interpretation from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, and a B.A. in Spanish Language and Culture from Capital Normal University of China. She is fluent in English, Chinese, and Spanish.

Raquel León-de la Rosa (Mexico)

Raquel León-de la Rosa is a Ph.D. candidate in Transpacific Relations at the University of Colima in Mexico. She is a research professor at Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla’s Faculty of Administration, where she teaches in the International Business Program. She has written and presented on Sino-Latin American affairs on numerous occasions. She holds a M.A. in Chinese Culture, Society, and Economy from University of Alcalá de Henares and a degree in International Relations from the Autonomous University of Puebla. She is fluent in Spanish and English, proficient in French, and holds basic knowledge of Chinese.

Li Jiawei (United States)

Li Jiawei​ ​is a research analyst at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – Strategy and Policy Unit, where he works closely with economists and chiefs of mission on the IMF’s financing strategies for developing economies. He previously worked at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS),​ ​t​he Inter-American Development Bank, and Moody’s Investors Service. He holds a M.A. in International Economics & International Relations with a specialization in Latin American Studies from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced and International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. in Spanish ​​Literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University. He is also CFA Level 2 candidate and is fluent in Chinese, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian.

Liu Peng (China)

Liu Peng is a Ph.D. candidate at the Latin American Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He previously worked in the Embassy of China in Peru, where he was responsible for trade affairs, as well as in China’s Chamber of Commerce’s Division of Mechanical and Electrical Products for Import and Export. He holds an M.B.A. from ESAN University of Peru, a M.A. in Spanish Literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University, and a B.A. in Spanish Literature from Beijing International Studies University. He is fluent in English, Chinese, and Spanish.

Jevon Minto (Jamaica)

Jevon Minto is a former journalist for Nationwide Radio in Kingston, Jamaica. He recently worked in the Inter-American Development Bank’s Caribbean Department, where he helped develop communications strategies for Caribbean countries. As a journalist, Mr. Minto closely monitored China’s growing engagement with Jamaica and the Caribbean. He is currently enrolled in Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Mexico, where he is pursuing a M.A. in Economic Development & International Cooperation. As part of his research, Mr. Minto is investigating China’s current and future participation in regional and sub-regional development banks (RDBs) in Latin America and the Caribbean. He holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Northern Caribbean University. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Shi Yan (China)

Shi Yan is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at Tsinghua University. She has worked in the Chinese Embassy in Peru, the China Committee of Promotion of International Trade, and the Inter-American Dialogue, among other institutions. She also participated and presented in various international forums, including the Latin American Studies Association’s (LASA) Annual Conference and the First China-CELAC Ministerial Forum. She holds a M.A. in Latin American Studies from Georgetown and a B.A. in Spanish Philology from Beijing Foreign Studies University. She is fluent in English, Chinese, and Spanish, and proficient in Portuguese and French.