A reception was held Tuesday in Beijing to celebrate the progress of China's relationship with Latin America in 2004.

Eighty diplomats from 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries attended the reception hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the China-Latin America Friendship Association.

Li Xiaolin, the CPAFFC's vice president, said the Sino-Latin American relationship entered a new phase in 2004, as Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cuba, and the heads of state of Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela paid visits to China.

There have been 57 couplings of friendship cities between China and Latin American countries so far, and the number of organizations that cherish friendship with China has been increasing in the region.

"The CPAFFC will work together with the China-Latin America Friendship Association to push the relationship further," Li said.

Source: Xinhua