Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Latin America starting Nov. 17 in what analysts have touted as a move that would usher in a new era of bilateral relations between the two sides.

The Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua said Xi is expected to pay state visits to  Peru, Ecuador, and Chile from Nov. 17 to 23 and will be attending the the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Peru on Nov. 19 to 20.

Like Us on Facebook

Xi's visits are aimed at improving partnerships with Latin American countries as they strive for 'win-win cooperation' and seek for common development under the concepts of mutual benefit and mutual trust.

Economic cooperation

The state-run news agency said Xi would be discussing e-commerce, specifically free trade arrangements and economic cooperation as well as construction, infrastructure, production capacity, and business industrial parks during his visits.

Xi's visit will be the third since assuming the presidency in 2013 and the first in Ecuador since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations in 1980.

Xinhua said that at present, what Latin America needs is capital and technology to boost its manufacturing capabilities and do away with its heavy dependence on exports of raw materials.

Right timing

The upcoming visit of Xi would present a right timing for Latin America, which needs industrial upgrading and infrastructure in which Beijing can provide.

The Xinhua report said relations between China and Latin America have been improving since 2014 when Xi and leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) established the China-CELAC Forum.

The forum successfully inked a five-year economic cooperation plan in Beijing during the forum's first meeting in January 2015.

Under the China-CELAC forum, the participating countries entered into cooperation agreements in various areas such as culture and people-to-people exchanges, education, and technology.

Within the framework of the forum, Beijing pledged 6,000 government scholarships to students from Latin American and Caribbean countries within five years from 2014.

TagsPresident Xi Jinping, Latin America visit, Xinhua, Ecuador, peru, Chile, economic cooperation, APEC, china