China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin arrived in Lima on Sunday, kicking off his official good-will visit to this South American country.

Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivered a written speech upon his arrival at the airport of the Peruvian capital.

In the speech, Jia hailed the traditional friendship and sound development of bilateral ties, highlighting the fruitful cooperation in various fields and close coordination on international and regional affairs since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1971.

The China-Peru relations entered a new phase of development when the two states established a strategic partnership in 2008, Jia said.

China always attaches importance to the relations with Peru and will work together with Peru to promote the partnership in a bid to benefit the two peoples, he noted.

Jia is paying a two-day visit to Lima, which is expected to further friendship, mutual respect and cooperation, at the invitation of the Peruvian government.

He is scheduled to meet the Peruvian leadership and attend the opening ceremony of a China-Peru business forum on Monday.

Jia visited the Philippines and made a stopover at French Polynesia last week. He will also visit Ecuador and Brazil.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2009)