Peruvian President Alan Garcia on Friday held a formal welcome ceremony for Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who arrived in Lima for a goodwill visit to the South American country.

In his welcome speech, Garcia said it is one of Peru's goals to become China's top trade, economic and social partner in the region.

Peru supports China's cause of reunification, he added.

"We are always willing to support China as one nation, and to witness China's vast social development. All nations should see this development as positive," said the president.

After the ceremony, Garcia invited Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, to a meeting to discuss bilateral topics and areas of possible cooperation.

During his five-day stay in Peru, Li is also expected to visit the Lima City Hall, where Mayor Luis Castaneda will declare him a special guest.

Peru, which has the largest overseas Chinese community in the region, is one of the first Latin American countries that established diplomatic ties with China.

The country is the last leg of Li's Latin America trip, which has taken him to Mexico, Venezuela, Suriname and Ecuador.

After visiting Peru, Li will pay a visit to Samoa, an island nation in the South Pacific.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2007)