China, Peru sign free trade deal

China and Peru on Tuesday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in Beijing, capping over-a-year-long negotiations and legal processes.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and his Peruvian counterpart Luis Giampietri Rojas witnessed the signing ceremony in Beijing, with both hailing the deal "a new landmark" in bilateral ties.

"China-Peru agreement is the first FTA package China signed with a Latin American country," said the Chinese Commerce Ministry.

After 14 months of negotiations, China and Peru concluded their free trade talks in November 2008, followed by some legal processes in both countries.

"With the global financial crisis looming, the China-Peru deal sends a positive signal of deepening cooperation and tiding over difficulties," said Zhu Hong, deputy director general of the International Department of China's Ministry of Commerce.

"The pact covers a wide range of fields and features a high-degree of openness," Zhu said, citing phased, free tariff on more than 90 percent of goods ranging from China's electronic products and machinery to Peru's fish powder and minerals.

Under the deal, both pledged to further open their service sectors and offer favorable treatment to investors from the other country.

China and Peru also reached agreement on intellectual property, trade rescue, customs procedures and other issues.

Trade between the two countries reached $7.5 billion in 2008, according to the Chinese Customs.