Ricardo Lopes Kotz is a doctoral candidate in Public Policy and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong. Since April 2025, he has been a visiting researcher at our Millennium Nucleus ICLAC. We spoke with him to learn more about his research on Chinese investments in Latin America and his impressions about China's role in regional development. Here's what he told us:
1. Name and occupation
Ricardo Lopes Kotz, doctoral candidate in Public Policy and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong.
2. What is your doctoral thesis about?
The title of my thesis is "The political economy of Chinese investments in Latin America: the cases of lithium and electric vehicles in Argentina, Brazil and Chile", and it analyzes the impacts of foreign direct investment made by Chinese companies in these three countries, especially in the energy and electromobility sectors.
We infer that there is a new phase of Chinese participation in Latin America post-Covid, with a change in the FDI profile: 1) Relevant investments are now made not only through state-owned enterprises, but also, increasingly, through private companies; 2) destination sectors are slowly changing from oil, gas and agriculture toward renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and mining of strategic minerals like lithium and rare earths; 3) although the total investment volume is lower, the number of projects in the region has increased; 4) FDI projects are increasingly oriented toward knowledge and technology-intensive sectors, with a gradual increase in greenfield investments as a form of entry, especially in green technologies.
3. If you had to summarize your research in one sentence (or question...)
¿Existe la posibilidad de que los países latinoamericanos se integren a una cadena de valor liderada por empresas chinas en energía verde? ¿Cómo se relacionan estas inversiones con los procesos de desarrollo de Argentina, Brasil y Chile?
4. What do you hope to gain from your visit to Chile?
To meet and establish links with people interested in China-Latin America relations, participate in events, conduct expert interviews for my thesis and learn more about Chilean culture and economy.
5. If you had to summarize China's impact on Latin America, what would you say…
I believe China's impacts on Latin America have been heterogeneous. On one hand, it has represented an enormous opportunity for joint growth, with companies from both regions investing and trading with each other. On the other hand, it has been very difficult for industries in countries like Argentina and Brazil to compete in international markets against the growth of China's manufacturing capabilities. It's simply not feasible to compete with China in terms of scale or costs.
Currently, we are at a moment when China has advanced considerably in technology, and the main Latin American economies also have capabilities and experience in strategic areas such as energy and electricity, aerospace industry, mineral extraction and processing, not to mention agribusiness. In this sense, it is an opportune moment for more mature and balanced relationships. However, this will depend on the region's countries designing policies and strategies to manage their ties with China, where cooperation and technology transfer should be priorities.
I wish to see more industrial policies and innovation strategies in the region, like Chile's National Lithium Strategy and Brazil's Reindustrialization Plan for 2030. Otherwise, the risk persists that Latin America will remain anchored to a historical pattern of exporting natural resources and raw materials in exchange for industrial goods, which has had detrimental consequences for the sustainable development of local societies.
6. Favorite place in Chile so far?
Torres del Paine National Park, in Patagonia! I did the 22-kilometer hike to the Torres and it was incredible. I also really liked Valparaíso!
7. What book are you reading now?
I just finished The Song of Achilles and I started reading El Aleph, by Jorge Luis Borges. I would like to read something by a Chilean writer afterwards. I welcome suggestions!