China expects further cooperation with Latin America

China hopes that President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit will promote further cooperation with Latin American countries, Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said here Monday.

Xi will attend a BRICS summit in Brazil and visit three other Latin American countries later this month.

Brazil is the first Latin American country that Xi will visit, Li said,where he will hold talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and sign agreements on trade and finance. It is the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Brazil is an important emerging market, Li said. China and Brazil have common interest in promoting multi-polarization and the democratization of international relations.

Xi will also hold talks with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez.

It is 10 years since China and Argentina became strategic cooperative partners, and the two sides have effective cooperation in the fields of energy, mining and finance and are willing to promote pragmatic cooperation and strategic mutual trust.

China-Venezuela relations developed rapidly in recent years, Li said, noting that the two countries' friendship was strengthened by President Nicolas Maduro's visit to China last September.

China and Venezuela have become good friends with mutual trust and coordination in international and regional affairs, Li said, adding that two countries have pragmatic cooperation in the fields of energy, finance and infrastructure construction.

China and Cuba have had mutually beneficial and friendly relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties 54 years ago, Li said. China-Cuba ties have witnessed pragmatic cooperation in renewable energy and agriculture.

Xi will hold talks with Raul Castro Ruz, president of Cuba's Council of State and the Council of Ministers. They will make a long-term and strategic plan for bilateral ties.

In Brazil, Xi will meet leaders of Latin American and Caribbean nations, exchanging views on regional and international issues of common concern.

This month's visit will be Xi's second Latin American tour as president. Last year, he visited Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico from May 31 to June 6, during which he held talks with leaders of eight Caribbean nations.