Peru and China signed an agreement on Monday to ease travel for citizens between the two countries.

At the signing ceremony, Peruvian Foreign Minister Allan Wagner Tizon and Chinese ambassador to Peru Mai Guoyan said the agreement will boost economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries and promote tourism and trade.

Talking about future cooperation in tourism, Wagner said China, a rapidly growing economy, would provide a huge opportunity for Peru's tourism.

The minister said the Peruvian government would provide more convenience for visitors and businessmen coming from China, and he hoped Peru could gain authorized destination status for Chinese citizens.

In the new agreement, Peru canceled one provision which grants Chinese citizens coming to Peru on business to travel visa-free. He said this was over concerns about illegal migration.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2003)