On November 20, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered an important speech at the Peruvian Congress, elaborating on the development of friendly and cooperative relations between China and Latin American countries. He pointed out that China, as the largest developing country, and Latin America, as one of the world's major developing regions, should draw closer together and cooperate at a higher level and in broader areas. This is not only in line with the trend of the times but also out of each other’s needs for development. China is ready to work together with Latin American and Caribbean countries to develop comprehensive cooperative partnerships featuring equality, mutual benefit, and common development.

At about 11:20 local time, President Hu Jintao, accompanied by Javier Velásquez, President of the Peruvian Congress, walked into the meeting hall. The audience all stood up and applauded warmly. Hu delivered the speech at the plenary hall of the Peruvian Congress. It is a semi-circular hall ablaze with lights and filled with a warm atmosphere of friendship between the two countries and the people. The national flags of China and Peru were erected on both sides of the rostrum. The national anthems of both countries were played before the start of President Hu’s address.

In the warm applause, Hu Jintao delivered an important speech entitled "Building Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership between China and Latin America in the New Era". Hu pointed out that China pays close attention to the development of Peru and follows closely the development of the Latin American and Caribbean regions. In recent years, the governments and people of Latin American countries are committed to boosting economic and social development, safeguarding regional peace and stability, and promoting solidarity and cooperation. The overall strength of Latin America increased steadily. Latin America is more closely linked with the rest of the world and has become an increasingly important force in the international arena.

Hu stressed that China has always attached great importance to the development of friendly cooperation with Latin America from a strategic height. During my visit to Latin America in 2004, I said that China hoped to become a reliable and all-weather friend of Latin America, a partner for mutual benefit and win-win results, and make the China-Latin America partnership a model of dialogues among different civilizations. In the past four years, China and Latin American countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges. The consultation and dialogue mechanisms between China and Latin American countries and regional organizations are being constantly improved. China and Latin American countries understand and support each other in relation to each other's core interests and issues of major concern. The integration of interests of China and Latin America reached an unprecedented depth. Bilateral relations between the two sides reached an unprecedented height. China and Latin America countries have become real friends and good partners.

Hu Jintao pointed out that in recent years, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Latin America has developed rapidly and the quality and level of cooperation has improved considerably. China and Latin American countries continued to expand cultural and educational exchanges and cooperation. The friendship and mutual understanding between the people have deepened. The foundation for China-Latin America relations turns more solid and is facing more opportunities for future development.

Hu stressed that China is willing to work together with Latin American and Caribbean countries to strive to build comprehensive cooperative partnerships between China and Latin America featuring equality, mutual benefit and all-round development in the new era. He stressed that the two sides must firmly grasp the theme of common development so as to develop such partnerships. Development is the fundamental way to the improvement of people’s well-being and the promotion of social progress. Development is the most urgent task of China and Latin America. The development of both China and Latin America is at a crucial stage and this represents opportunities for both sides. China is willing to work together with Latin American countries to expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields and promote each other’s development in the process of cooperation. The development of each other will reinforce the common development of both sides.

Hu Jintao pointed out that the two sides should adhere to the basic principle of equality and mutual benefit so as to develop such partnerships. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and pursue an opening-up strategy based on mutual benefit and win-win results. China insists that countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal. China always regards safeguarding and developing common interests of both sides as the starting point and the ultimate goal of China-Latin America cooperation and respects the rights of Latin American countries to choose their own paths. China treats Latin American countries as equals, takes into account the legitimate concerns of Latin American countries in cooperation, and strives to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

Hu stressed that the two sides should keep on exploring and innovating and carry out extensive and comprehensive cooperation so as to develop such partnerships. We are ready to work together with Latin American countries to expand the convergence of common interests, explore innovative forms of cooperation, broaden areas of cooperation, and enrich cooperation contents so as to promote bilateral cooperation for more tangible results and enable the people to benefit from our cooperation.

Hu said that China is ready to work together with Latin American countries to promote the in-depth development of China-Latin America relations from 5 aspects: first, to keep close political relations, maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at various levels, improve bilateral and multilateral political dialogue and consultation mechanisms, and constantly enhance mutual political trust; second, to deepen mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, optimize trade structure, increase mutual investment, particularly strengthen investment cooperation in areas such as manufacturing, infrastructure construction, energy, minerals, agriculture, hi-tech industries, and encourage the businesses to strengthen strategic cooperation in trade and investment. China is willing to do the utmost to continue to provide assistance for economic and social development for Latin American and Caribbean countries; third, to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs, coordinate positions on global issues including climate change, food security, energy security, financial security, multilateral trading system, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, jointly participate in the development of international economic, financial, and trade rules, and promote the international economic order toward a more just and reasonable direction; fourth, to give particular attention to mutual learning and common development in the social area, actively carry out substantive cooperation in specific areas such as anti-poverty, education, social security, health care, environmental protection, disaster mitigation and relief, and encourage the businesses to bear social responsibilities and contribute to local development while making investment and starting business in each other’s territories; fifth, to enrich cultural and educational dialogues and exchanges, deepen and expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, sports, journalism and tourism, give full play to the mechanism of local and non-governmental friendly exchanges, and increase mutual understanding.

Lastly, Hu said that China and Latin America are lands full of hopes. Common destinies, shared responsibilities and common goals closely link us together. The Chinese people and the people of Latin America have a great rapport. The friendly cooperation between China and Latin America enjoys promising prospects. I hope that China and Latin America work hand in hand to firmly grasp the pulse of the times, and comprehensively deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation so as to create a better future for bilateral relations and jointly advance the grand cause of mankind’s peace and development.

Velasquez said in his speech that both China and Peru have long-standing civilizations and the two countries have much in common. Facts have proved that the Peru-China relations and the cooperation in various fields are mutually beneficial. Peru has a strong will to develop cooperation with China and hopes that both sides will work together to promote the development of bilateral strategic partnership. Peru supports the development of China-Latin America relations and is willing to serve as the bridge for economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Latin American countries. Peru looks forward to working with China to strengthen the cooperation within the framework of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and contribute to promoting the Asia-Pacific cooperation process and the development of the region.

More than 200 people attended the lecture including members of the congress and government officials of Peru and diplomatic envoys.

Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, and Dai Bingguo also attended the lecture.