1st LD Writethru: China, Peru agree to promote better, faster growth of ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Peruvian counterpart, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, on Monday agreed to promote better and faster development of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

The consensus was reached during in-depth talks between the two heads of state after a red-carpet welcoming ceremony hosted by Kuczynski in front of the presidential palace.

Invited by Kuczynski, Xi arrived in the Peruvian capital of Lima on Friday to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country.

Xi told Kuczynski that he hopes the visit will deepen the two countries' traditional friendship, promote all-round dialogue and cooperation, and boost the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Recalling Kuczynski's visit to China in September, the Peruvian president's first foreign visit since he was sworn in on July 28, Xi said they held fruitful talks and agreed to push forward bilateral relations into a new phase.

The coming five years are a significant time for national development of both countries, the Chinese president said, urging the two sides to weigh top-level design and overall planning for bilateral ties, run their cooperation mechanisms well, fully implement their joint action plan for cooperation in 2016-2021, and strengthen synergy of development strategies so as to obtain real results of their consensuses.

He stressed that both countries should treat industrial capacity cooperation as a new engine for their economic ties and strive for early harvest of major projects.

The two sides can also further reinforce cooperation in mining industry, energy and infrastructure construction, as well as explore new cooperation fields such as environmental protection, clean energy and information connectivity.

Calling on both countries to upgrade their free trade agreement signed in 2009 in a bid to inject new vitality into two-way trade, Xi said the Chinese government will continue to encourage capable enterprises to invest in the Latin American country.

In addition, Xi advised both sides to constantly expand exchanges in culture, education, science and technology, healthcare, sports, media, colleges and universities, think tank and other areas, as well as strengthen tourism cooperation.

Xi congratulated Peru on the success of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, noting that the substantial results of the meeting contained Peru's contribution and Latin America's wisdoms at large.

He said China stands ready to work with Peru and other APEC member economies to earnestly implement the meeting's results, constantly push forward the process of building a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), and jointly forge an open economy in the region.

Hailing the sustained growth of bilateral relations, Kuczynski said Peru is looking forward to further enhancing ties with China since both share similar historical experiences, same aspiration for national development, and huge potential for cooperation in the economic and cultural fields.

Peru is willing to upgrade its free trade agreement with China, Kuczynski said, adding that Chinese investment in mining industry, energy, hydropower, transportation and infrastructure are welcomed.

The Peruvian president also voiced hope that both countries will strengthen ties in education, culture and tourism and create more favorable conditions for people-to-people exchanges.

Peru appreciates China's support for the country in hosting the APEC meeting, Kuczynski said, stressing that Lima is ready to work with Beijing in boosting trade and investment liberalization as well as opposing protectionism in the Asia-Pacific.

Following their talks, Xi and Kuczynski witnessed a signing ceremony of cooperation documents, including an inter-governmental joint action plan for cooperation in 2016-2021, and deals in trade and economy, mining industry, industrial parks, information connectivity, economic technology, quality inspection, environment and other fields.

Accompanied by Kuczynski and his wife, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan paid tribute to the monument of Peru's independence heroes earlier in the day.

Peru is the second leg of Xi's current three-nation Latin America tour. Prior to Peru, Xi paid a state visit to Ecuador. The final stop of the week-long tour will be Chile.

It is Xi's third visit to Latin America as Chinese president since he took office in 2013. Endi