Beijing, Nov 13 (EFE).- Chinese President Xi Jinping departed for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, with an initial stop on Spain’s Gran Canaria Island, where he will meet local leaders and tour the historic city of Las Palmas.
Upon his arrival, he will be welcomed by the President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, and the President of the Gran Canaria Cabildo, Antonio Morales, in recognition of his visit to the autonomous region, his third in the past eight years.
Later that afternoon, Xi is expected to tour Vegueta, the historic district of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, including a visit to the Casa de Colón museum, a key cultural site in the Canary Islands In Peru, Xi will join other leaders for the APEC summit, which represents over a third of the global population, accounts for nearly 54 percent of the world’s GDP, and handles 44 percent of global trade.
He may also meet with outgoing US President Joe Biden and the Prime Ministers of Japan and South Korea, among others, on the sidelines of the event.
Xi will make a state visit to Peru, where he plans to sign a protocol updating the Free Trade Agreement originally established between the two nations in 2009.
Following the APEC summit, he will continue to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Leaders’ Summit from November 17-21, where he will also make a state visit to Brazil.
This week, Chinese media highlighted that Xi’s tour underscores “China’s pursuit of solidarity with the Global South” and Beijing’s commitment to providing “stability and certainties” in a world facing complex challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, economic crises, and rising uncertainties. EFE
jco-ssk
