Diplomacy and Trade at the Forefront as Xi Jinping Visits Peru for Apec Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Peru on Thursday, accompanied by a delegation of 400 business leaders, signalling China’s intent to deepen its engagement in Latin America. The visit coincides with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, which runs through Saturday, and centres on both diplomacy and trade.

A key highlight of Xi’s visit was the virtual inauguration of the US$3.5 billion Chancay port project, funded and operated by China. This ambitious infrastructure investment demonstrates Beijing’s commitment to expanding its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into South America, a region increasingly crucial for global trade routes. The port is expected to bolster Peru’s role as a trade hub and solidify its economic ties with China.