Latin American History Research Association of China (Hereinafter referred to as the Association), established in 1979, is a mass academic society managed by the Institute of World History, CASS. The commanding institution of the Association, consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary-General, deputy Secretary-Generals and several trustees, is the council elected by the representative meeting of its members. 

　　Due to historical reasons, the research of Latin American history began quite late in China. It was not until early 1960s when a few universities and academic institutes started the education and research in this discipline, yet the following Cultural Revolution long kept these works scattered and paused. A new era for academic research came after the Cultural Revolution. Traditional centers of the study of Latin American history, such as Peking University, Institute of World History, CASS, Institute of Latin America, CASS, Fudan University, Nankai Univeristy, Hebei University, Hubei University (formerly Wuhan Normal College), all considered that it is necessary to unify the limited, scattered and relatively weak research resources in China, make adaption and organization to them, so as to share information and improve the quality of academic research. In that context, The organization of Latin American History Research Association of China, a mass academic society to coordinate and lead research of Latin American history all over China since the end of 1978. 

　　In December 1979, by the provocation of Peking University, Institute of World History, CASS, Institute of Latin America, CASS, Fudan University, Nankai University, Hebei University, Hubei University, the Association was established on a conference of world history studies in China at Hongshan Hotel, Wuhan; the first representative meeting and the first academic conference was also held (the members at that time was over 100). 

　　The first representative meeting produced the regulation of the academy, and made decisions on the main tasks and commanding office. The meeting elected revered Professor Li Chunhui of Renmin University of China as the first President of the Association. The Secretariat located in Hubei University. The Association aims to unite researchers and teachers on Latin American history all over China to study Latin American history, promote academic discussion in the discipline, enhance the sharing of information, develop the friendship between Chinese people and people of Latin America, and make contribution to the modernization and the construction of spiritual civilization of China. 

　　Ever since its establishment, the Association has organized Latin American historians all over China to develop systematic and solid academic research as well as academic communication. The Association links theory with practice, unite researchers and teachers on Latin American history all over China and promoted the development of the study of Latin American history through academic discussion, sharing of information, monographs and international academic activities. Up to now, the academy has held 24 annual academic conferences, and discussed issues of key importance in Latin American history such as social nature and national liberty movements, the independent movement of Latin America, the evaluation of Bolivar, the origin of the nations in Latin America, the economy and capitalism of Latin America. The journal of the Association is the semi-annual Correspondence on Latin American History, which has been released 73 issues. In addition, the Association  edited some publications  including Catalogue of Monographs and Papers on Latin American History in Chinese Libraries (1983, which records materials on Latin American history in main Chinese libraries in both Chinese and foreign languages such as English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, Japanese, German and Italian), Papers on Latin American History (1986), The March towards the Modern World, 1492-1992: the Global Significance of Encounter of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres since Columbus (1995), and Latin American Culture and Modernization (2013), etc.  

　　The Association and its activities have received keen international attention. The international academic communication of the Association is very frequent. Dozens of scholars from the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Argentina have paid visit to the Association and workplaces of its members to give lectures, receive interview or take part in academic discussions. Many members of the Association have been to the USA, Britain, Mexico, Spain, Portuguesa, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Columbia, Cuba and Chile for academic visit, lectures or international academic conferences. In 1992, the International Symposium on the Discovery of America by Columbus held by the Association in cooperation of other institutes produced great influence at home and abroad. 

　　Professor Li Chunhui, Professor Luo Rongqu, Professor Hong Guoqi and Professor Wang Xiaode have successively been the Presidents of the Association. The present President is Professor Han Qi (Nankai University), the present Vice-Presidents include Professor Wang Wenxian (Institute of World History, CASS), Professor Dong Guohui (Nankai University), Professor Yuan Dongzhen (Institute of Latin America, CASS), Professor Yang Shouguo (Institute of Latin America, CICIR), Professor Wang Ping (Nankai University), Professor Cheng Hong (Jianghan University), and Associate Professor Li Juzhen (Fujian Normal University). The Secretariat is located in the Center for Latin American Studies of Nankai University, with Professor Dong Guohui as the Secretary-General. 

　　In sum, the study of Latin American history is new in China. It started in the early 1960s, and recovered and made initial development from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. Since the late 1990s, it has made rapid development in many aspects; but the academic standard of it is still insufficient in both depth and span. The Association hopes to establish further contacts with scholars in this discipline at home and abroad, unite together and make efforts to promote the study of Latin American history in China and the friendship between Chinese people and people of Latin America.