The upcoming visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang to Peru is of particular significance for bilateral relations, which have been lifted to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Chinese Ambassador to Lima Huang Minhui said.
After pointing out this is the first time a Primer Minister visits the country in twenty years, the diplomatic officer said she hopes Li’s official agenda in Lima will provide good perspectives for the future development of the relationship.
“Our Prime Minister will meet with President Humala, with whom he will exchange ideas and criteria about our broad bilateral agenda and subjects of mutual interest regarding regional and international issues,” she noted.
Mihui stressed that bilateral relations are quite wide and at many levels, particularly the economic and commercial ones, which extended after the signing and entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2009.
“This was the first free trade arrangement between China and Latin America, in terms of content,” she was quoted as saying in an interview with TV Peru.
Since that year, business relations between both nations “have developed quickly”, as evidenced by the bilateral trade, which grew at an annual rate higher than 20%, and by Chinese investments in Peru, which have seen a significant increase.
She also underlined that China has cemented its position as one of the main trade and economic partners of Peru.
“Last year, China ranked first as Peru’s commercial partner once again. It is the main destination of Peruvian exports and, last year, for the first time ever, was the first provider of products for the Peruvian market,” she specified.
China is one of the most important investors in Peru, with more than 100 companies operating here, not only in traditional sectors such as mining and fishing, but also in other areas such as energy, infrastructure, construction and banking service.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, she added, announced China’s willingness to join efforts and make the bi-oceanic railway a reality, which is intended to connect the Atlantic coast of Brazil and Peruvian ports in the Pacific, enabling a physical link between China and Latin America.
“The signing of a memorandum is expected in order to commence basic studies of the work. These studies are going to cover not only technical and economic aspects, but also social and environment issues. We hope this joint effort will see its first steps,” she added.
China and Peru have other aspects in common. Both nations share a millenary history and have splendid ancient civilizations. Besides, their relation and cultural, ethnic complementary factors date back to ancient times.
She went on to add the Chinese giant is an observer state of the Pacific Alliance and is undertaking close consultations with Peru regarding the organization of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, to be held next year in Lima.
(END) MVF/FHG/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/21/2015