On November 10, 2016, Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing for Chinese and foreign media. Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao and Deputy China International Trade Representative of Ministry of Commerce Zhang Xiangchen respectively introduced relevant information on President Xi Jinping’s forthcoming state visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile as well as his attendance at the 24th APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in Lima of Peru, and answered questions from journalists.

I. On State Visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile

Wang Chao expressed that President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile from November 17 to 23. During the visit in Ecuador, President Xi Jinping will exchange in-depth views with President Rafael Correa Delgado on bilateral relations and topics of common concern, witness the signing of a series of important cooperation documents, jointly meet the press, and attend the inauguration ceremony of projects supported by China as well as other activities. President Xi Jinping will also meet with President of the National Assembly Gabriela Rivadeneira. Both sides will issue a joint statement. During the visit in Peru, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, meet with President of Congress Luz Salgado and deliver a speech at the Congress. The two heads of state will also jointly attend the closing ceremony of the 2016 China-Latin America Cultural Exchange Year. Both sides will issue a joint action plan between the two governments. During the visit in Chile, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, jointly attend a signing ceremony for cooperation documents and meet the press. Both sides will issue a joint statement.

Wang Chao pointed out that this is President Xi Jinping’s third visit to Latin-America. In recent years, China-Latin America relations have enjoyed a flourishing development momentum. As important representatives of the region, these three countries share profound traditional friendship and sound cooperation basis with China. It is believed that the visit this time will not only consolidate China’s traditional friendship with these three countries and comprehensively elevate the level of bilateral political mutual trust and practical cooperation, but also push China-Latin America comprehensive cooperative partnership for sustained and in-depth development, so as to make positive contributions to jointly coping with challenges, promoting common development and building a community of common destiny for mankind between developing countries, including China and Latin American countries, and emerging economies.

Zhang Xiangchen said that Ecuador, Peru and Chile are China's major economic and trade partners in Latin America. In recent years, bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and the three countries has achieved considerable development. During President Xi Jinping’s visit, both sides will, in the principle of mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual learning, focus on discussing the optimization of bilateral free trade arrangements and launching cooperation in such areas as e-commerce, production capacity, industrial parks and infrastructure construction. Both sides are expected to obtain outcomes in various aspects and sign relevant cooperation documents. China looks forward to deepening China-Latin America cooperation so as to jointly boost world economic recovery and prosperity.

II. On Attendance at the 24th APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in Lima of Peru

Li Baodong said that from November 19 to 20, President Xi Jinping will attend the 24th APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in Lima of Peru under the theme of “Quality Growth and Human Development”. Leaders and representatives from various economies will exchange in-depth views on such issues as regional economic integration, the Asia-Pacific free trade area, connectivity and service industry cooperation. The consensus will be laid out in the leaders’ declaration issued after the meeting. During the meeting, President Xi Jinping will attend the APEC CEO Summit and deliver a keynote speech. He will hold talks with representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council, attend two stages of the meeting and meet with leaders of relevant economies.

Li Baodong pointed out that the APEC is the highest-level, the most extensive and the most influential economic and trade cooperation mechanism in Asia Pacific. President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the Lima meeting this year fully embodies China’s great attention to strengthening Asia-Pacific regional cooperation. China supports Peru in hosting a successful meeting and looks forward to a meeting that will promote openness and inclusiveness to ensure that the development outcomes will benefit all economies and all peoples. It is expected that the meeting will deepen pragmatic cooperation to create favorable conditions for developing economies to further integrate into the Asia-Pacific region, continuously implement the achievements of the Beijing meeting, strengthen the consensus of Asia-Pacific partnership, as well as make future-oriented planning for the medium-to-long-term vision of Asia-Pacific regional cooperation. This year marks the 25th anniversary of China’s accession to the APEC. For the past 25 years, China has always been an active participant and contributor to the APEC and has played an important role in promoting the construction of the Asia-Pacific community. China will continue to advance Asia-Pacific regional cooperation and play a constructive role in boosting economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Zhang Xiangchen said that the APEC has played an active role in promoting trade liberalization and facilitation and regional economic integration. China hopes that the Lima meeting will achieve following economic and trade achievements: First, the meeting will complete the collective strategic study for the Asia-Pacific free trade area as scheduled, and propose policies and recommendations on further realizing the Asia-Pacific free trade area. Second, the meeting will continue to deeply implement relevant outcomes of the Beijing meeting to propel cooperation in connectivity and global value chain. Third, the meeting will support inclusive growth in the Asia-Pacific region and push for new cooperation achievements in the service industry, small and medium-sized enterprises and other areas. China will continue to work with all parties with an attitude of openness, inclusiveness, pragmatism and responsibility to ensure the complete success of the meeting.