When Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the Peruvian Congress on Monday, he not only highlighted the more strengthened economic ties between China and Peru, but also called for cooperation to be furthered to give a louder voice to emerging markets and developing countries on the world stage.
In his speech, Xi reviewed the bilateral traditional and friendly relations and exchanges, and elaborated on economic cooperation that has benefited the people of the two countries.
Bilateral trade between China and Peru reached 16 billion US dollars in 2015 –double that of the year before the inking of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2009. About 170 Chinese enterprises have since invested a total of 18 billion US dollars in a host of fields in Peru.
China is now Peru's biggest trading partner and export market by volume of goods.
Xi also expanded his country’s commitment to development to the whole of Latin America, stating that China will firmly support Latin American countries in seeking development paths suited to their national conditions, gaining greater strength and prosperity through unity, as well as playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the Peruvian Congress in Lima, Peru, Nov. 21, 2016/Xinhua Photo
"We will strengthen strategic communication and dialogue on global issues and strive for greater representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries," Xi noted.
China is Latin America’s second biggest trading partner with investment worth 150 billion US dollars in the region.
"We need to make sure that our people are the ones who promote, conduct and benefit from our cooperation," Xi added.
He also announced that China will increase the number of training opportunities of various kinds for Latin America and the Caribbean to benefit 10,000 people in the next three years. A center for press exchange will be set up in China and journalists from Latin America and the Caribbean will be invited to study or work in China.
In the next five years, China is expected to import 8 trillion US dollars of goods, receive 600 billion dollars of foreign investment and invest 750 billion dollars overseas. Meanwhile, Chinese tourists are forecast to make 700 million outbound visits.
All of this development will stem from China’s progress that can bring opportunities to the rest of the world, including Latin American countries, Xi noted.
Before his address, Xi was awarded the Grand-Cross Medal of Honor of the Peruvian Congress by Luz Salgado, president of the Congress.
The Chinese President also met his Peruvian counterpart, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, on Monday. They both agreed to better promote and faster develop the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.
The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a number of documents and deals covering a wide range of cooperation fields.
(With inputs from Xinhua News Agency)
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