China is ready to work with Peru to push their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level for the betterment of the people of the two countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday during talks with his Peruvian counterpart Dina Boluarte in Lima.

President Xi arrived in Peru on Thursday to pay a state visit and attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

During his talks with Boluarte, Xi pointed out that China and Peru are both ancient civilizations. "The profound accumulation of ancient civilizations has endowed China and Peru with wisdom and minds, enabling us to see the direction of history, follow the trend of the times," he said.

He highlighted that the two countries have always adhered to the principles of equal trust, mutual respect and mutual learning, becoming a model of solidarity and cooperation between countries of different sizes, systems and cultures.

Over the past 53 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Peru relations have maintained good development, the Chinese president noted, adding that thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides, the volume of trade between China and Peru has increased by 1.6 times since 2016, the investment stock of Chinese enterprises in Peru has doubled and the upgrading of the China-Peru Free Trade Agreement has been completed, delivering tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

The Chinese president called on the two countries to summarize the successful experience of China-Peru cooperation, further improve the top-level design, strengthen trade and investment, promote cooperation in both traditional and emerging industries, and enhance the integration of industrial and supply chains.

President Xi also urged efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of bilateral practical cooperation and expressed optimism about the broad prospects for cooperation between the two sides,

He told Boluarte that China cherishes the traditional friendship with Peru and appreciates that the Peruvian Congress has designated every February 1 as Peru-China Fraternity Day.

Xi also stressed that Chancay Port is a successful project within the Belt and Road Initiative. He said China is willing to take Chancay Port as a starting point to forge a new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America to link the Inca Trail and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road, and open up a path of common prosperity for Peru and other Latin American and Caribbean countries. Xi and Boluarte later attended an inauguration ceremony for the port via video link.

The Chinese president also voiced China's full support for Peru's role as host of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Friday.