Peru, China ready to strengthen friendship

Beijing supports Peru in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting this year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Wang made the comment when he held talks with visiting Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea Franco in Beijing.

During the talks, the two sides reached a consensus on deepening cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, digital economy, health and green development.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on this year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, so as to "inject new impetus into the growth of the Asia-Pacific economy", Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Wang said China is willing to strengthen the link between its development strategy and Peru's, and to complete negotiations on upgrading their free trade agreement at an early date.

He noted that the two countries are both important members of the Global South.

China is ready to communicate and coordinate closely with Peru on major issues such as addressing climate change and implementing the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and "firmly safeguard the common interests of the vast number of developing countries", he added.

The Peruvian foreign minister said the historic meeting between the two heads of state held in San Francisco last year has become a new starting point for deepening Peru-China relations.

Peru appreciates that China has always stood on the side of peace and upheld fairness and justice, and Peru firmly adheres to the one-China principle, he said.