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China Focus: China-Latin America ties standing at new starting point

Xinhua, November 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

With bilateral partnerships elevated,agreements inked and cooperation deepened, President Xi Jinping's latest tour to Latin America, the third time since March 2013, has driven China-Latin America relations to a new high.

Xi returned to Beijing on Friday after state visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile. During his time in Peru, Xi also attended the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima.

The trip, which was the first time that Xi has visited Peru and Chile during his presidency and the first visit by a Chinese president to Ecuador in 36 years since diplomatic relations were established, has pushed China's relations with the three nations to a new level.

China lifted relations with Ecuador and Chile to one of a comprehensive strategic partnership, sending a strong signal that China is deepening mutual trust and elevating partnerships with Latin America.

The visit to Peru was also of special significance as this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Despite the turbulent international and regional backdrop, the tour has sent a clear message that China's confidence in the future of the region remains unchanged.

China signed more than 40 bilateral cooperation documents with the three countries, covering a wide range of areas including trade, finance, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and cultural exchanges.

It also inked agreements with Ecuador and Peru on increasing cooperation in production capacity and investment.

Xi has visited many nations in the region, including state visits to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico in 2013, and Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba in 2014. The latest trip has boosted China's overall cooperation with Latin America.

On the multilateral front, China and Latin America are engaged in a comprehensive and cooperative partnership, and have established the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

It can be said that China-Latin America relations have entered a new phase of parallel development and mutual promotion between overall cooperation and bilateral cooperation.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded that "China-Latin America cooperation is not only at its prime, but also boasts promising prospects and great potential."

Already the second-largest trade partner to the region, China has pledged to work with Latin America to increase bilateral trade to 500 billion U.S. dollars and elevate investment in the region to 250 billion dollars by 2025.

New opportunities also unfold for further coordination on multilateral occasions.

Next year, Ecuador will take over the rotating presidency of the Group 77, and Chile will prepare for the Second Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in 2018.

At the new historical starting point, China and Latin America are working to achieve peaceful development and cooperation and advance the coordination of development strategies, in an effort to forge a community of common destiny.

Seen from the perspectives of either traditional friendship or practical cooperation, China and Latin America are on a path toward common development in line of their fundamental interests. Endi