Critical minerals are becoming central to the global economy, underpinning everything from electric vehicles and renewable energy to advanced manufacturing and national security. Latin America possesses some of the world's largest reserves of copper, lithium and other strategic minerals, placing the region at the centre of an increasingly competitive global landscape.

But resource wealth alone is no guarantee of long-term prosperity. Can Latin American countries strengthen governance, attract investment and capture greater value from the energy transition while managing environmental and social challenges?

In this episode of The LatinNews Podcast, Richard McColl speaks with Professor Cynthia Sanborn, Director of the Centro de Estudios sobre China y Asia-Pacífico (CECHAP) at the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru.

Together, they examine the region's critical minerals sector, the governance challenges surrounding resource development, China's growing role in Latin America, and what will determine whether the region can become a global leader in the industries of the future.