Top Chinese lawmaker wraps up fruitful Latin America tour(2)

EXPANDING TRADE

China and Colombia scored a trade volume of 10.45 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, while in the first nine months of this year the bilateral trade surpassed 12 billion dollars, up 54.4 percent from one year earlier.

China is Peru's second-biggest trade partner, its biggest export market and second largest source of imports, with bilateral trade hitting 14.66 billion dollars in 2013, a 6.26 percent year-on-year rise.

As Mexico's second-biggest trade partner, China saw a bilateral trade of 39.2 billion dollars with it last year.

This year, China brought up a cooperation initiative with Latin America under a new formula, known as 1+3+6, which is designed to boost sustainable development for all parties.

The formula stands for a 2015-2019 cooperation plan with Latin America and the Caribbean, and addresses the three engines to drive cooperation -- trade, investment and finances -- and the six key sectors for the development of cooperation -- energy, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, scientific and technological innovation and information technology.

The goal of the initiative is to promote interaction between Chinese and Latin American industries as a way to expand mutually beneficial cooperation.

HIGHLIGHTS OF VISIT

In Peru, Zhang met with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala. Both leaders underlined the rapid development of bilateral ties, which led to the signing of a free-trade agreement in 2009 and the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013.

In Colombia,the second leg of his tour, Zhang exchanged views with President Juan Manuel Santos on ways of improving pragmatic collaboration.

Zhang appreciated Colombia's efforts to promote peace and end the long-term internal conflict in the country, and expressed gratitude to the Colombian side for its support for the one-China policy.

While meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Zhang conveyed to him the greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China and Mexico, Zhang said, are currently cooperating closely on preparation for the upcoming first ministerial meeting between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which is to be held in Beijing next year.

Pena Nieto, who officially visited China two weeks ago, described his visit as a great success, saying that it helped to strengthen mutual trust and Mexico's determination to consolidate ties with China.

Mexico admires the "amazing achievements made by China," and hopes to learn from its experience and success, said the president.