Hu: China to build cooperative partnership with LatAm

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-21 06:49

LIMA -- China is willing to make concerted efforts with Latin American countries to establish a comprehensive cooperative partnership of equality, mutual benefit and common development, Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Thursday.

China, as the largest developing country in the world, is willing to work with Latin America, the most important developing region, to boost mutual cooperation to a higher level, which conforms to the trends of the times and their respective development needs, President Hu said in his address to the Peruvian Congress.

Hu Jintao put forward five proposals to boost Sino-Latin American ties.

Firstly, China and Latin American countries should maintain high-level exchanges and contacts, improve bilateral and multilateral political consultation and dialogue system at various levels, while continuously enhancing mutual political trust.

Secondly, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in economy and trade, China and Latin America should optimize trade structure and increase mutual investment, especially in the fields of manufacturing, infrastructure construction, energy, minerals, agriculture and high technology, said Hu.

China is willing to continue providing assistance for the economic and social development of Latin American and Caribbean countries within its ability, Hu said.

Thirdly, China and Latin American countries should enhance communication and coordination on their stances on such global issues as climate change, food security, energy and finance, multilateral trade system and the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Under the current complex international financial and economic situation, China and Latin America should join hands and participate in the framing of international economic, financial and trade rules, so as to help the international economy develop in a fairer and more reasonable direction, the Chinese president said.

Fourthly, Hu said China and Latin America should learn from each other and make progress in the fields of social welfare and development.

Both sides should carry out pragmatic cooperation in poverty reduction, education, social security, medical and health care, environmental protection and disaster relief, he said.

Finally, both sides should take effective measures to deepen and boost cooperation in culture, sports, media and tourism, said Hu.

The Chinese leader arrived in Lima on Wednesday for a state visit to Peru and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled for November 22-23.