China Focus: Li's Latin America visit eyes deepening all-round cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will pay an official visit to Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Chile from May 18 to 26, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao and Assistant Minister of Commerce Tong Daochi said on Wednesday in a preview to Li's visit.

COMMITMENT TO CHINA-LATIN AMERICA TIES

Wang said Li's upcoming visit has important meaning for China and Latin America's all-round cooperation.

Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Chile are important countries in Latin America and China's major economic trade partners in this region, Tong said. China's trade with the four countries accounted for 57 percent of the total trade volume between China and Latin America in 2014.

China is committed to diversifying trade with Latin American countries, importing more high value-added products, Tong said.

During his visit, Li will discuss deepening cooperation in areas including bilateral industrial and technology cooperation, infrastructure development, building of FTAs, human resources training, and financial support, in the principle of mutual trust, mutual benefit and learning from each other.

Li's visit will deepen ties with Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Chile, and strengthen political trust with Latin American countries.

Wang said Li's visit will enhance pragmatic cooperation in various fields and will advance people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin America.

CHINA-BRAZIL COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

China's investment in Brazil, its largest trading partner in Latin America, reached 18.94 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2014.

In addition to traditional areas of agriculture and mining, China and Brazil also cooperate in various other fields such as energy, minerals, electric power, industry, equipment manufacturing, infrastructure, finance, and service industry, Tong said.

"It is not just about resources. China's trade with and investment in Brazil is showing a tendency of diversification in areas of manufacturing and aviation," Tong said.

During his visit to Brazil, Li will hold talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and attend a joint press conference. Li will also meet with the president of the Federal Senate of the Brazilian National Congress and president of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. He will attend the closing ceremony of a business summit between the two countries, Wang said.

Li will also visit Rio De Janeiro and visit exhibitions of Chinese equipment manufacturing.

Li's visit to Brazil will promote China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership and safeguard the common interest of developing countries. The two sides will sign cooperative agreements in politics, economic and trade, finance, technology and agriculture.

They will also sign a series of documents such as the joint research of the feasibility of building a railroad connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic, industrial capacity cooperation, and access of agriculture products, Tong said.

Leaders of the two countries will sign a joint action plan between the two countries, which serves as a renewal, complement and extension to the 2010-2014 joint action plan and will further deepen bilateral economic cooperation, Tong said.

FRIENDLY COOPERATION WITH COLOMBIA

China's trade and economic ties with Colombia has been growing steadily in recent years and bilateral trade volume reached 15.64 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, Tong said.

During Li's visit to Colombia, the two sides will strengthen communication and cooperation in infrastructure development, capacity building for small and medium enterprises, housing, sports, human resources training, as well as investment and industrial capacity cooperation, and sign relevant documents.

During his visit to Colombia, Li will hold talks and meet with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and attend a joint press conference, Wang said, adding that the leaders of two countries will also attend a seminar of people-to-people exchanges.

They are expected to sign cooperative agreements in investment, finance, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, communication, culture and education.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Colombia.

CHINA-PERU COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

China's trade volume with Peru reached 14.32 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, with bilateral free trade pact with Peru being implemented for five years and bearing fruitful results. China's investment in Peru reached 14.24 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2014, Tong said.

During his visit to Peru, Li will hold talks and meet with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso and attend a joint press conference, Wang said, adding the leaders of two countries will attend some cultural exchanges activities.

Li will hold a meeting with Chinese enterprises in Peru, in a bid to understand the situation of Chinese business in Peru and advance bilateral investment and cooperation.

According to Wang, two sides will sign cooperative agreements in economic and trade, infrastructure, technology, aerospace industry and communication.

Tong said the two countries will also sign cooperation pacts on industrial capacity cooperation, access of agriculture products, and human resources training.

CHINA-CHILE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Chile, the first Latin American country signing free trade pact with China, enjoys rapid growth of bilateral trade. Two-way trade rose five times since the signing of free trade pact in 2005. Bilateral trade volume ran up to 34.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2014.

During his visit to Chile, Li will hold talks with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria and attend a joint press conference, Wang said.

Li will also attend the opening ceremony of a seminar of bilateral economy and trade and deliver a speech at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Wang said.

Li will discuss how to further improve the free trade pact and promote freer trade between China and Chile, which could bring more benefits to the enterprises and consumers of the two countries.

The two sides will sign documents on capacity cooperation, avoidance of double taxation, currency swap and clearing of Renminbi trades.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Chile, Wang said, noting that the two sides will sign cooperative agreements in politics, economy and trade, finance, culture and technology.

As to the visit, Premier Li has been invited by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria. Endi