Li's official visit marks milestone in China-Peru ties

Editor's note: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is visiting Peru from May 22 to 24. Huang Minhui, Chinese ambassador to Peru, wrote the below article on the two countries' friendship.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Peru is marking a milestone in the history of the two countries' friendship.

Although separated by vast distances, China and Peru have a long-standing and wellestablished friendship. From as early as the 16th century, ships began sailing the Pacific trade routes that linked China, the Philippines, Mexico and Peru.

The first Chinese migrants to Peru arrived in Callao in 1849, as farmers, miners and railroad builders, and made a great contribution to the country's economic and social prosperity in the late 19th century.

Peru started diplomatic relations with China in 1971, one of the first countries in Latin America to do so. Since then, the bilateral cooperation has made considerable progress in all areas.

The China-Peru relationship is developing rapidly in the 21st century. The two governments established a strategic partnership in 2008 and signed a free trade agreement in 2009, the first of its kind between China and a Latin American country.

In April 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Ollanta Humala upgraded the bilateral relationship to an all-round strategic partnership.

During the APEC meeting in November in Beijing, the top leaders of both countries reached broad consensus on the future development of the relationship.

Zhang Dejiang, China's top legislator, visited Peru later the same month.

Such active high-level visits lead the way in promoting the countries' pragmatic cooperation.

As an old Chinese saying goes, those with the same ideals think nothing of mountains or seas between them, and the vast Pacific Ocean has become a bridge linking China and Peru.

Premier Li's visit to South America this month is his first trip to the continent, and marked the first visit by a Chinese premier to Peru in 20 years.

Li will meet with Peru's top leaders to promote bilateral partnership in fields including politics, trade, energy and mining, manufacturing, agriculture, science and education, culture and people's livelihood.

The China-Peru all-round strategic partnership is making steady steps on a promising road. The relationship is expected to grow even more vigorous with Li's visit.

I wish the premier great success on his visit to Peru.

(China Daily 05/22/2015 page6)