Peru seeking deeper ties with Beijing, envoy says

China's development blueprint signals long-term strategic clarity at a time when Peru seeks deeper cooperation in infrastructure, digital development and trade amid a shifting global economic landscape, said Carlos Vasquez, Peruvian ambassador to China.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) shows the Chinese government attaches great importance to formulating development plans and has "strong state capacity" for implementation, he said.

The recommendations for formulating the plan were adopted late last year, outlining China's socioeconomic development priorities for the next five years.

From it, Vasquez identifies a governance model that prioritizes "technological self-reliance" and a growth based on "general consumption".

For Peru, the road map is more than a domestic policy for China; it is a framework for cooperation, he told China Daily.

As Peru faces a "large gap" in terms of infrastructure development, Vasquez said the future trajectory signals an opportunity for bilateral cooperation to develop Peru's infrastructure to consolidate economic growth.

According to Peru's National Sustainable Infrastructure Plan for Competitiveness, the country faces an estimated $110 billion in infrastructure gap.

The Chancay Port in Peru, a joint Chinese-Peruvian investment project, was described by Vasquez as "a turning point".

In 2025, the port's first full year of operation, Chancay handled 270,000 TEUs and 1.36 million tons of cargo — exceeding initial forecasts. A TEU, or Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, is an exact unit of measurement used to determine cargo capacity for container ships and terminals.

Shipping time for Peruvian exports to Asia is reduced from between 35 and 38 days to 23 or 24 days, Vasquez said, adding that shorter transit time is expected to lower transportation costs and enhance competitiveness for Peruvian products, particularly agricultural exports.

The port could also function as a logistics hub for South America, with exporters from countries such as Chile and Colombia "showing interest in using the facility" to access Asian markets more efficiently, he said.

Beyond physical infrastructure, digital transformation is emerging as another major area of collaboration.

The combination synergy of physical networks with digital infrastructure is essential for promoting development in big data platforms and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, Vasquez said, adding that the digital leap is already taking root in Peru, with Chinese technology firms already operating in his country.

Trade remains a key focus, as Vasquez observed "changing consumption patterns among young generations here in China" that constitute potential demand for Peruvian products. Greater exposure to digital platforms and global information has expanded consumer choice and increased demand for healthy and higher-quality products, he said, referring to his country's key exports, such as avocados, which are very popular among young Chinese consumers.

"I think that Peru has a good opportunity — a very large opportunity window — to take advantage of the new consumption patterns of the Chinese market to introduce our products," he said.

Trade data underscore the momentum behind this trend. Peru's merchandise exports reached $90 billion in 2025, a 21-percent increase over the previous year, setting a record, according to data released in early February by Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Exports to China increased by over 30 percent year-on-year.

Historical links

Historical ties add another dimension to the relationship. Vasquez noted that between 1850 and 1880, Peru received about 100,000 Chinese migrants, many of whom settled permanently.

"Ten percent of our current population are descendants of those Chinese migrants," he said. Their influence remains visible in Peruvian cuisine and language, with words like "kion" for ginger, which reveals an important historic imprint, he added.

Looking ahead, Vasquez said he expects even closer ties with China, particularly as China prepares to host this year's APEC meetings, two years after Peru's 2024 edition. He views the forum as an important platform at a time of global uncertainty.

In that context, Vasquez sees the China-proposed Global Governance Initiative as serving to align with the need to strengthen "multilateral institutions" and maintain the "stability of the international system", principles he said are fundamental to sustained global development.

Contact the writers at shaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn.