Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu's visit to Brazil, Chile and Colombia has clearly shown the Chinese government's interest in strengthening relations with Latin America, a Chinese official said here Wednesday.

Yin Hengmin, chief of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Latin American department, said Hui's visit is the first by a Chinese leader to Latin America since the new Chinese government took office last year.

Hui's tour aims at deepening mutual understanding and cooperation, the diplomat said.

During his stay in Brazil, Hui held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice President Jose Alencar, Foreign Minister Celso Amorin and Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues.

Yin said the vice premier's trip to Brazil coincides with the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Bilateral ties have developed smoothly, particularly since the 1990s, and now are in the best period.

The good relationship is mirrored by frequent high-level political exchanges, including the visits by Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorin in March, Hui in April and President Lula in May. In addition, bilateral trade rose to 8 billion US dollars in 2003,and is expected to increase further rise this year.

Joint construction projects, satellite launching, and establishment of a Brazilian plane factory in China are examples of South-South cooperation in technological developments, Yin said.

Hui arrived last Wednesday, the first stop of his visit to three countries -- Brazil, Chile and Colombia.

Source: Xinhua