- Title: Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski
- Date: 21st November 2016
- Summary: PRESIDENTIAL ESCORT, COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF THE CAVALRY MARSHAL DOMINGO NIETO XI WALKS ALONG RED CARPET ESCORTED BY HEAD OF THE MILITARY HOUSE COLONEL CARLOS HELERA XI GREETS PERUVIAN PRESIDENT, PEDRO PABLO KUCZYNSKI
- Embargoed: 6th December 2016 17:52
- Keywords: Xi Peru China Kucyznski. state visit
- Location: LIMA, PERU
- City: LIMA, PERU
- Country: Peru
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00259E1JRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China's President Xi Jinping on Monday (November 21) began a state visit to Peru after he pledged to open the economy further at the weekend as leaders of Asia-Pacific countries sought new free-trade options following Donald Trump's election to U.S. president on promises to scrap or renegotiate trade deals.
All eyes were on China at this year's APEC summit in Lima, Peru just over a week after Trump's surprise victory in the United States dashed hopes of the largest-ever U.S.-proposed trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), coming to fruition.
U.S. President Barack Obama has championed the TPP as a way to counter China's rise, but he has now stopped trying to win congressional approval for the deal signed by 12 economies in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, excluding China. Without U.S. approval the current agreement cannot be implemented.
Xi was received at Lima's government palace by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who two months ago travelled to China to invite him to the APEC summit and to visit the country.
The bulk of bilateral talks were on trade, although the Chinese offer to finance a South American and Atlantic train crossing the continent, linking Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, was also discussed. In the afternoon, Xi will be honored in Peru's Congress.
According local media, Chinese officials said they were ready to exploit the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Peru, so that more benefits can be obtained for both countries. The agreement came into effect on March 1, 2010. Kuczynski and Xi posed for photographers as they presided over the signing of agreements between both countries.
Chinese officials, also told local media, relations with Peru would not be limited to its traditional mining exports, but both countries had now entered the agro export sector. The visit served to finalize arrangements for the entry of Peruvian blueberries and prawns into China, according to local media reports.
China recently overtook the United States as Peru's top trading partner with bilateral trade worth $7.1 billion dollars in the first half of this year, local media reported, quoting Chinese officials.
Chinese attendance at the APEC meeting was its largest ever and regional delegates said China would take the lead on trade if the U.S. turned toward protectionism. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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