by Carlos Acat Koch
LIMA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Peru's comprehensive strategic partnership with China is a priority of its foreign policy, Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister Nestor Popolizio said.
"Peru considers China to be a key partner globally and especially in the Asia-Pacific, the most dynamic region in terms of trade and investment," Peru's top diplomat told Xinhua before departing last week for an official visit to Beijing.
The visit aims to review bilateral ties and the progress of a 2016-2021 Joint Action Plan, as well as collaboration within multilateral blocs, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.
"Within the framework of economic cooperation, Peru will present a series of proposals centered on the development of infrastructure and connectivity, with an eye on identifying the projects China would be most interested to invest in," Popolizio said.
The projects are in a range of productive fields, including mining, energy and manufacturing.
China is Peru's main trade partner, thanks to a free trade agreement that is a direct and concrete result of the comprehensive strategic partnership, said Popolizio.
The bilateral relationship has also driven Chinese investment in Peru and cooperation between the two countries, he said.
Peru's economic stability and legal guarantees have helped to spur investment, he added.
In the face of rising protectionism and isolationism in places such as the United States, Peru and China continue to believe in the benefits of free trade and a strong multilateral world order based on international consensus, the minister said.
China's Belt and Road Initiative that drives global development in part through infrastructure building continues to generate interest around the world and in Latin American countries, like Peru, he noted.
"In our case, that option can help promote large-scale interconnection projects to ease the movement of merchandise and passengers between Chinese, Russian and European ports, and the length of central Asia," facilitating the flow of goods from other parts, including Peru, said Popolizio.
Peru lies along the Pacific coast, making it naturally inclined to look to the Asia-Pacific region, especially at a time when China is playing a larger role on the world stage, said the diplomat.
"China's outlook, in addition, is key to the configuration of the new world order and, especially, to the globalized economy. That's why I believe our ties have an auspicious future in every aspect," said the official.
Popolizio leads a delegation representing many different sectors, including mining, housing, construction and sanitation, as well as the state investment promotion agency ProInversion.
