Xi: Share development wealth

President Xi Jinping announced several measures on Monday to share China's development opportunities with Latin American countries during his third visit to the region as China's head of state.

In a speech delivered at the Peruvian Congress, Xi said that China will enhance technology transfer to Latin American countries and boost human resources cooperation with the region.

In the next three years, China will raise the training quota to 10,000 for people from Latin America and invite Latin American journalists to work and study in China. He also proposed a roundtable discussion on environmental protection with Latin American countries next year.

Xi last Thursday began state visits to three countries - Ecuador, Peru and Chile. He will fly to Chile on Tuesday.

In his speech, Xi urged Chinese investors to respect local traditions, abide by national laws and shoulder their social responsibilities in promoting employment when their companies expand overseas.

Xi said that China firmly supports developing countries to increase their voices in the global governance system.

He called on Latin American countries to proactively participate in free-trade arrangements in the Asia and Pacific region and oppose all forms of protectionism.

Xi earlier had met with the Peruvian Congress President Luz Salgado and received an honorary medal.

Peru would like to enhance its cooperation with China in areas such as laws, trade, investment and infrastructure, Salgado told Xi.

It is Xi's third visit to Latin America as president since he took office in 2013.

Chinese statistics show that the trade volume between China and Latin America rose more than 20-fold during the past decade to reach $236.5 billion in 2015.

China is the second-largest trading partner and third-largest investment source in Latin America, while Latin America is China's seventh-largest trading partner.

Xi's state visits show that China is keen to strengthen ties with Latin America, Venezuelan political analyst Vladimir Adrianza told the Xinhua News Agency.

China represents both an "excellent" development model for regional countries and provides attractive incentives, said Adrianza, who teaches at the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela in Caracas.

"A growing China-Latin America relationship can help promote multilateral and global development," he was quoted as saying.

Sun Xiaohui, a researcher of international strategy at the China Institute of International Studies, said that Xi's three trips to Latin American countries show that China will never forget its friends of developing countries.

China is playing an active role in providing public services and products for developing countries, which will bring prosperity, he said.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn