Top Chinese legislator holds talks with Peruvian president

LIMA -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang held talks here Friday with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala on bilateral ties.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, recalled the traditional friendship between China and Peru, saying the two countries and the two peoples have maintained long-term close exchanges and forged profound brotherhood through mutual support, win-win cooperation and common development.

China-Peru relations are at their best thanks to rapid and sound development in recent years, Zhang said, noting the signing of a free trade agreement in 2009 and the upgrading of bilateral ties to the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013.

China is now Peru's second-largest trading partner, the largest export market and the second-largest source of imports. Two-way trade reached 14.66 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, with a year-on-year increase of 6.26 percent.

Zhang highlighted the latest consensus between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Humala on deepening China-Peru relations reached during Humala's visit to Beijing earlier this month.

During Humala's visit, Xi urged both countries to enhance high-level contacts and exchanges between governments, legislative bodies and political parties.

In Beijing, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements including the setting up of a China-Peru-Brazil working group on the construction of a railway from the Peruvian Pacific coast to the Brazilian Atlantic coast.

"My visit to Peru is to implement the two presidents' consensus in terms of legislature and boost bilateral relations in a bid to bring greater benefits to the two peoples," Zhang said.

Zhang said China actively supports Peru in hosting the upcoming UN-sponsored Climate Change Conference, which is scheduled in December in Lima, the Peruvian capital.

China will work with Peru and play a constructive role in helping the conference generate positive results, Zhang said.

Humala stressed that Peru has always regarded China as a good friend and a good partner. He underscored Peru's commitment to deepening comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

The president called on the two countries to keep the momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues, enhance cooperation in infrastructure, trade, investment, culture and education.

Humala said Peru welcomes Chinese investment.

Zhang is making a four-day visit, the first ever visit to Peru by a top Chinese legislator since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1971.

Peru is the first leg of Zhang's ongoing nine-day Latin America tour, which will also take him to Colombia and Mexico.