Chinese premier meets with president of Peru

Peru's President Ollanta Humala, left, shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing April 8, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso in Beijing on Monday, calling on the two countries to deepen friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Noting that the two economies are highly complementary to each other, Li suggested that the two sides should perfect the current cooperation mechanism, explore the potential of the China-Peru Free Trade Agreement and jointly resist trade protectionism.

He also called on the two sides to enhance cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, finance, infrastructure, science and technology, and human resources.

China appreciates Peru's positive attitude toward the establishment of the China-Latin America cooperation forum as well as the advancement of China-Latin America cooperation, said the premier.

He said China is ready to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Peru, to push for progress in China-Latin America cooperation, in a bid to benefit their peoples.

China is Peru's largest trade partner and source of foreign investment, said Humala.

He said Peru attaches great importance to ties with China and will work closely with China to implement the results of this visit within the framework of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

He agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the sectors of trade and investment, agriculture, infrastructure, education, and science and technology, so as to promote the development of bilateral ties as well as China-Latin America relations.

Humala is paying a state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Peruvian president also attended the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on Sunday.