Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong arrived in Lima Wednesday for an official visit at the invitation of his Peruvian counterpart David Waisman.

Waisman held a ceremony at the airport to welcome him.

In a written statement issued upon his arrival, Zeng said China has always valued its ties with Peru and his visit is aimed to enhance friendship, strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation and promote common development.

He said he will exchange views with President Alejandro Toledo and Waisman on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern.

"I am confident that my visit will be a success and that it could give fresh impetus to friendly cooperation between China and Peru," he said.

Peru was among the first Latin American countries that established diplomatic relations with China and bilateral ties have progressed smoothly in the past 33 years, he said.

The two countries have had mutually beneficial cooperation in politics, economics, culture and science and technology, deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Zeng had just wound up a three-day visit to Mexico. His five-nation visit in Latin America and Caribbean will also take him to Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.

Zeng is also scheduled to attend the opening of the first ministerial meeting of the China-Caribbean economic and trade cooperation forum next week in Kingston, Jamaica.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2005)