China, Peru agree to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte issued a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries after their talks in the Peruvian capital of Lima on Thursday.

According to the joint statement, the two sides agreed that in the last 53 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Peru, especially since the establishment of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013, the two countries have continued to strengthen mutual trust and practical cooperation in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

The two sides vowed to deepen cooperation in the strategic areas of infrastructure, energy and mining.

The statement emphasized that China's development brings new cooperation opportunities for developing countries, including Peru, and China reiterated its support for Peru's pursuit of economic and social development in accordance with its national conditions.

China and Peru welcomed the signing of a protocol on upgrading their free trade agreement during Xi's visit, said the joint statement, adding the two sides are willing to continue to promote trade and investment facilitation, strengthen customs inspection and quarantine cooperation, and increase trade in high value-added products.

The two countries announced they will jointly explore new opportunities for cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote the sustainable development of the two countries.

China and Peru are also ready to cooperate on large-scale infrastructure projects in accordance with their respective national laws, the statement said.

It added that the countries believe the opening of Chancay Port is an important step for making Peru one of the world's leading logistical, technological and industrial centers, and for strengthening Latin America's trade relations with Asia.

China and Peru are willing to incorporate projects in such emerging areas as circular economy, sustainable agriculture, industrial and supply chains, digital economy investment and green development into bilateral cooperation, the statement stressed.

The two sides welcomed the establishment of China-Peru aviation links by Chinese airlines through code-sharing, cultivating the market for the launch of direct flights.

Stressing the importance of cooperation in artificial intelligence capacity building, the statement said China and Peru will enhance the digital competitiveness of all people, especially vulnerable groups.

They both voiced willingness to enhance their cooperation regarding fishing so as to promote the sustainable development of this industry.

In the area of global governance, the two countries reaffirmed their adherence to multilateralism, pledging to uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law.

The two sides also renewed their advocacy for strengthening multilateral cooperation and jointly tackling global challenges. 

China and Peru will continue to support an open, transparent and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization (WTO), the joint statement said.

Both countries are ready to continue to actively promote the reform of the WTO, restore the normal functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism, and enhance the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system, it added.