Full coverage: China’s Leaders

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has begun a five-day visit to China. President Xi Jinping met him in Beijing on Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R) pose for a group photo with Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2nd L) and his wife in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

This is Kuczynski’s first foreign trip since taking office in July. Xi welcomed him to the country and urged for cooperation in modern agriculture, new energy, and the green economy, as well as in the traditional sectors of mining, energy and infrastructure.

“Mr. President is an old friend of China and has contributed a lot in promoting bilateral ties. You have chosen China as your first foreign destination. It shows you and your government have attached great importance to developing ties with China. I appreciate that,” Xi said.

High-level visits between China and its trade partners in Latin America are getting more frequent in recent years. Leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Chile have all made China their first foreign trip destination. This time, Peru is seeking to attract more Chinese investment in mining, fishing and infrastructure and more Chinese visitors.

Peru is China’s second largest investment destination in Latin America. It has attracted more than U.S.$14 billion worth of direct investment for the world’s second largest economy. More than 170 Chinese companies have set up branches there. A bilateral free trade agreement between China and Peru took effect in 2010.

Before his trip to China, Kuczynski said his government will maintain an open-door foreign policy in order to promote economic development and attract investment from countries like China.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of a series of agreements on culture, media and television cooperation.