Lessons for Latin America from China

Last November, Andres Oppenheimer wrote on the heels of the Chinese Premier's visit to Latin America that Latin America should break out of its insularity (and its usually Western orientation) and should look towards the East, and particularly China, for examples on how to shake the current doldrums of economic stagnation. Is China a good model for Latin America? Oppenheimer thinks so, but I'm not so sure. Yes, lessons can be learned, but the last time Latin America took lessons from the east (i.e. the Asian Tigers), the result was not so positive. Is Oppenheimer barking up the fantasy tree of wishful thinking, or does he have a point?