Li Changchun (L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Peruvian President Alan Garcia in Lima, capital of Peru, March 30, 2007. Li arrived here for a goodwill visit to Peru in the afternoon of March 29. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    LIMA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Peruvian President Alan Garcia on Friday held a formal welcome ceremony for Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who arrived here for a goodwill visit to the South American country.

    In his welcome speech, Garcia said it is one of Peru's goals to become China's top trade, economic and social partner in the region.

    Peru supports China's cause of reunification, he added.

    "We are always willing to support China as one nation, and to witness China's vast social development. All nations should see this development as positive," said the president.

    After the ceremony, Garcia invited Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, to a meeting to discuss bilateral topics and areas of possible cooperation.

    During his five-day stay in Peru, Li is also expected to visit the Lima City Hall, where Mayor Luis Castaneda will declare him a special guest.

    Peru, which has the largest overseas Chinese community in the region, is one of the first Latin American countries that established diplomatic ties with China.

    The country is the last leg of Li's Latin America trip, which has taken him to Mexico, Venezuela, Suriname and Ecuador.

    After visiting Peru, Li will pay a visit to Samoa, an island nation in the South Pacific.

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Senior Chinese party official emphasizes friendship with Peru

Li Changchun (L, back), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Peruvian President Alan Garcia (R, back) hold talks together in Lima, capital of Peru, March 30, 2007.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    LIMA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China values its all-round cooperative partnership with Peru and is ready to add new vigor to the traditional friendship between the two countries, a senior Chinese Communist Party (CPC) official said here Friday. Full Story 

    LIMA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Peru conforms to the basic interests of both sides, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said here Thursday. Full Story