Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in San Francisco, the United States, Nov 16, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

SAN FRANCISCO - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for fostering new growth engines for China-Peru cooperation in digital economy and green development.

Xi made the remarks when meeting his Peruvian counterpart, Dina Boluarte, on the sidelines of the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting. 

He said that the two sides should synergize their development strategies, and strengthen cooperation in traditional areas such as economy, trade, energy and mineral resources.

Since China and Peru established diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, the two countries have given each other understanding and support on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, Xi said.

Xi said that China is ready to import more high-quality Peruvian agricultural products, and to encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in major Peruvian projects in accordance with market principles

Bilateral cooperation between the two sides has developed steadily, Xi said, adding that the Belt and Road cooperation, in particular, has promoted the development and revitalization of the two countries and brought benefits to the two peoples.

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Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said the two sides should deepen political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, firmly support each other in pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions, and work for more achievements under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi said that China is ready to import more high-quality Peruvian agricultural products, and to encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in major Peruvian projects in accordance with market principles.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in San Francisco, the United States, Nov 16, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Both China and Peru have splendid civilizations and profound cultures, and the two sides should step up cooperation in education, culture, tourism, science and technology and youth exchanges, so as to set an example for exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, Xi said.

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Xi stressed that under the new circumstances, developing China-Peru relations is not only in line with the common interests of the two countries, but also of great significance to building an open world economy.

China supports Peru in hosting the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and stands ready to engage in close communication and coordination with Peru to reap new results in APEC cooperation, making new contributions to the economic recovery and long-term development of the Asia-Pacific region and to the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Peru to promote the continuous development of China-Latin America relations in the new era, Xi added.  

Noting that both Peru and China are ancient civilizations and their peoples enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges, Boluarte said that since the establishment of their comprehensive strategic partnership 10 years ago, the two sides have adhered to mutual respect and support.

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Peru is committed to deepening relations with China and giving better play to bilateral cooperation mechanisms, continuously upgrading the level of comprehensive strategic cooperation and strengthening practical cooperation in green economy and other fields, she said, adding that Peru abides by the one-China principle and actively participates in Belt and Road cooperation.

Saying Peru is ready to strengthen multilateral coordination with China, Boluarte said that Peru will take over the rotating chair of APEC next year and her country looks forward to working with China to promote inclusive and sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the development of Latin America-China relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in San Francisco, the United States, Nov 16, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Expanding China-Mexico cooperation

The Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday also met with his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. 

Xi said the two sides should make good use of the inter-governmental cooperation mechanism and deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as infrastructure construction.

The friendship between China and Mexico has grown stronger over time, Xi said, noting that last year the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi said the two sides should deepen counternarcotics law enforcement cooperation, and actively support each other in organizing events for people-to-people exchanges such as cultural performances and exhibitions

Xi said that at present, the strategic, complementary and mutually beneficial nature of China-Mexico relations has become increasingly prominent, and mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns have become firmer.

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China attaches great importance to China-Mexico relations and is willing to work with Mexico to enhance strategic alignment, tap cooperation potential and leverage complementary advantages to push bilateral relations to a new level, he added.

The Chinese president stressed that China supports Mexico's independent development path in line with its national conditions and is willing to strengthen exchanges with Mexico in country governance.

Bilateral trade volume between China and Mexico has increased by more than 7,000 times since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and highlights of cooperation in fields including railways, automobiles and new energy are abundant, he said.

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Xi said the two sides should deepen counternarcotics law enforcement cooperation, and actively support each other in organizing events for people-to-people exchanges such as cultural performances and exhibitions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in San Francisco, the United States, Nov 16, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The two sides should strengthen multilateral coordination, firmly uphold multilateralism and democracy in international relations, and safeguard international fairness and justice as well as the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, Xi said.

Noting that next year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, Xi said that China is ready to work with Mexico to promote the steady and long-term development of China-Latin America relations in the new era.

Xi once again expressed condolences to Lopez over the recent hurricane disaster that hit Mexico's Pacific coast. He said that China will provide assistance to Mexico in the procurement of disaster relief supplies.

For his part, Lopez said both Mexico and China have splendid civilizations and the two peoples know each other well and treat each other like brothers.

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At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the first to offer assistance, providing a large amount of precious anti-pandemic supplies to Mexico and helping the country tide over the difficulties, Lopez said.

He added that after Mexico was hit by a recent severe hurricane in the Pacific Ocean, China immediately expressed sympathy and support, for which Mexico is grateful.

Both Mexico and China safeguard their own independence and firmly oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs, he noted, adding that Mexico will, as always, adhere to its friendly policy towards China, firmly support each other, facilitate Chinese enterprises' investment in Mexico, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields as well as cooperation in combating drugs production and trafficking.

Lopez said that Mexico is willing to closely coordinate with China in multilateral affairs, and actively promote Latin America-China relations.