The path of China-South America relations will be decided in neighbourhoods and kitchens, not just presidential palaces or investment forums
A few weeks ago, while travelling in Buenos Aires, I learned a new word:chino. I already knew its literal meaning – even a poor linguist like me could manage that – but in Argentina the word has taken on a second life. Achinois the neighbourhood mini-market run by Chinese migrants, most of whom are from Fujian or Guangdong province. Known for staying open late, these shops have become a fixture of urban life.
There is even a Chinatown. Barrio Chino lies a short distance north of Palermo and draws plenty of curious locals. Yet when I asked Argentines what they thought of Chinese people, their answers were strikingly consistent: “nice, hardworking, reliable”. Then came the qualifier “but they keep to themselves. We don’t really know them”.
Source: News - South China Morning Post
