China, eager to build up a foreign trade network while its ties with the United States languish, has been stepping up efforts to bolster its economic relations in Latin America this year.
Due to geographic proximity and long-standing political alliances, Latin America has traditionally looked to the US market as its top source of business.
But deals in the region improve China's ability to break down trade barriers, call for joint development and advance international use of the yuan.
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The US remains Latin America's biggest trade partner, but China ranks No 2 after two-way commerce hit a record last year.
Latin American countries exported around US$184 billion worth of goods to China and imported US$265 billion in 2022, according to the Global Development Policy Centre at Boston University.
Here are five inroads China has made in Latin America this year.
The deal signed on May 11 took a year to negotiate, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry said the pact will create a "convenient and transparent" business climate for realising two-way trade potential.
China and Ecuador are unlikely to compete, as the small Latin American country will probably ship oil, mining goods and seafood to China, which will send manufactured products the other way, said Evan Ellis, a research professor of Latin American studies at the US Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute.
"Obviously, this is an indication of China's continuation of the use of [free-trade agreements] to open markets and commercial engagement and influence," Ellis said.
"The question is, what are the markets that China would compete in? And I think there's the sense of complementarity."
Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing regards as a breakaway province that needs to be reunited with the mainland - by force, if necessary - cancelled its free-trade agreement with El Salvador on May 15.
Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen said the economic impacts of stopping the trade deal with the largest country in Central America were "very limited".
El Salvador broke official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2018 in favour of formally recognising mainland China.
President Nayib Bukele said in 2022 that El Salvador and China would start their own free-trade talks and try to clinch a deal as soon as possible.