Peruvian Vice President Luis Giampietri said on Wednesday his country was looking forward to signing a free trade deal with China.

According to local press, Peru will sign the agreement with China when Chinese President Hu Jintao pays a visit to Peru to attend the 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on Nov. 22-23 in Lima.

"This first visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintao to Peru is the best demonstration of the excellent bilateral relations and also a good opportunity to sign the trade deal," he told Xinhua during the first day of the annual Finance Ministers Meeting of APEC.

"Peru and China, since the establishment of diplomatic relations 37 years ago, have succeeded in raising their commercial balance from US$150 millions to more than 4 billion dollars these days," he said.

"Besides, there are a constant high level exchange between the two governments. The friendship between our two countries will contribute to the peace and the welfare of the world," he added.

Peru is the host country of this year's APEC forum.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2008)