BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 24 -- Ties between China and Latin America and the Caribbean have entered a new phase of development and cooperation, said Yang Wanming, China's ambassador to Argentina.

The diplomat participated on Wednesday in the "Fifth China-Latin America High-Level Dialogue Academic Forum" in the city of La Plata, south of Buenos Aires, which was attended by national and provincial government officials, academics and experts.

The theme of the meeting was "Building strategic trust and mutual understanding between China and Latin America."

Chinese President Xi Jinping made state visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile recently and attended the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima.

This trip has not only consolidated the traditional friendship between China and the three countries, but also laid out the new roadmap and new program to deepen cooperation between China and Latin America, said the ambassador.

"President Xi indicated in his important speech, given to the Peruvian Congress about the future of China-Latin American relations, that...these ties have seen a leap in their development," said Yang.

"Both sides have confirmed the comprehensive cooperation between China, Latin America and the Caribbean, marked by equality, mutual benefits and shared development," said the ambassador.

In terms of specific areas for the two countries to work in together, Yang mentioned "substantial economic and commercial cooperation, prioritizing energy resources, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, science and innovation, and information technology."

He also called for increased cooperation in a range of areas, including personnel training, the tourism market and the promotion of football. In the case of Argentina, Yang emphasized that the country is "a very important partner for China in Latin America."

Yang also said that the year 2017 coincides with the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina, adding this opportunity should be used to continue promoting exchanges between universities, think tanks and communications media, while driving the establishment of a mechanism of joint academic research.

This will also contribute to the integral and lasting development of relations between China and Latin America, as well as other Latin American countries, noted the ambassador.

In 2015, bilateral trade between China and Latin America reached 236.5 billion U.S. dollars.

In 2016, the two sides celebrated the China-Latin America and Caribbean Year of Cultural Exchange.

China has signed free trade agreements with Chile, Peru and Costa Rica. It stands as the second largest trading partner and the third largest foreign investor in the region.