China, Peru pledge to foster bilateral ties

SANYA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China and Peru on Saturday agreed to upgrade their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The agreement was reached while Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso in China's southern city of Sanya.

As good friends and partners, the two countries have built up mutual trust and cooperation, Xi said, adding that China is satisfied with the fine development of bilateral relations.

Peru took the lead in Latin America to sign a package of agreements over free trade with China, which has showed the way for the region, according to Xi.

The Chinese president said that both sides should continue to promote high-level exchanges and those between legislative bodies, political parties and local governments, as well as building a dialogue mechanism between higher levels of governments, so as to increase mutual trust and cooperation.

On the basis of bilateral free trade agreements, the two countries need to fully tap complementary advantages, optimize trade structures, expand trade scale, strive to facilitate key projects that benefit both sides, and strengthen tangible cooperation in the fields of agriculture, mineral products, infrastructure and projects concerning people's livelihoods, he added.

Xi stressed, "China and Peru should maintain communication and coordination on major international issues, and strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, in a bid to uphold the rights and interests of developing countries."

Echoing Xi's views, Humala expressed hope for high-level exchanges with China, strengthened policy dialogue and exchanges, expanded cooperation and seeking new areas of growth for trade and investment cooperation.

"We encourage Chinese businesses to invest and develop in Peru," he added.

According to Humala, the Peruvian side will actively promote personal exchanges and cooperation in areas such as education and tourism between the two countries, and welcomes more Confucius Institutes to be established in Peru.

As the founding nation of the regional Pacific Alliance, Peru is willing to propel this bloc to build relations with China, he noted.

At the invitation of Xi, Humala is paying a state visit to China. The Peruvian president will also attend the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia on Sunday.

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