The summit, which brings together leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean, is seen as a key battleground in the US-China trade war.

Xi Jinping's comments come as the US and China have agreed to a 90-day tariff truce, but tensions remain high.

China has pledged $9.2 billion in credit to the region, part of a broader effort to deepen economic ties and counter US influence.

The Belt and Road Initiative, a trillion-dollar infrastructure program, has already attracted two-thirds of Latin American countries, with China surpassing the US as the region's largest trading partner.