Peru's cooperation with China in areas such as port construction and mining industry has contributed to the country's development, job creation and people's wellbeing, said Gustavo Adrianzen Olaya, president of the Council of Ministers of Peru.
As the 2024 APEC gathering is scheduled to commence Sunday in Peru, the Chancay Port, located north of Lima and constructed by a Chinese company, is also set to open for business.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Olaya noted that Peru welcomes more investment from China.
"We are informed of the cooperation that is being provided by the government of the People's Republic of China and we are not only informed, but also grateful because Peru is one of these countries that is benefiting from Chinese investment in the southern hemisphere. We are a hemisphere with many needs, as we have always known, but we are also, above all, a very dynamic people. We are an enterprising country and we have a culture of hard work, as they have in China," said Olaya.
"So, I believe that for these first investments that are arriving, which are very significant for Peru, we have a great possibility of continuing to expand them. The desire now is to continue to further improve the splendid relationship we have already had, to further strengthen our commercial activities. And I am telling you fundamentally in two areas that are significant for the Peruvian economy: mining on the one hand and agricultural exports on the other. Independently of the projects we already have in the port industry, we also have very important mining experiences from the port of Chancay. In Marcona, where we also have Chinese mining operations, or in the Las Bambas corridor. We hope that all these investments will grow and when they do not, we will also aspire to new projects. This generates development for Peru, as well as jobs and wellbeing," he said.
Peru is one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic ties and a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and is also the first Latin American country to sign a package of free trade agreements with China.
At present, China is Peru's largest trade partner, largest export market, and largest source of imported goods, while Peru is China's fourth largest trade partner in Latin America. In 2023, their bilateral trade volume reached 37.69 billion U.S. dollars, representing a year-on-year growth of 0.8 percent.
Cooperation with China in port, mining sectors brings benefits to Peru: official
