Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun has described Vice President Xi Jinping's four-nation tour as a major diplomatic endeavor by China in the European Union (EU) and Latin America at the start of the second decade of the century.

Xi wrapped up his visit to Italy, Cuba, Uruguay and Chile on Monday.

The tour was positive in boosting China's friendly cooperation with the four countries, pushing an all-round and thorough development of China-EU and China-Latin American ties in the new situation, and creating a more favorable environment for China's reform and development, Zhang said Monday.

Xi reached important consensus with leaders of these countries on international and regional issues of common concern, Zhang said, adding that the signing of 61 cooperation agreements worth 4 billion U.S. dollars during his visits boosted bilateral relations and practical cooperation.

CONSOLIDATING MUTUAL TRUST

When leaders of the four nations met with the Chinese vice president, they all spoke highly of the development of relations with China and the importance of developing ties with China in their foreign strategies, saying China was a trustworthy friend and a strategic partner, Zhang said.

They all reiterated firm adherence to the one-China policy and their willingness to work with China to push bilateral and regional relations towards healthy and steady development, he said.

Promoting exchanges between parties and parliaments with China was a top priority of Xi's visit, Zhang said, adding that all party and parliamentary leaders of the four nations voiced commitment to strengthening exchanges with China and boosting all-round development of bilateral ties.

PROMOTING MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION

Xi's visit was aimed at promoting, guiding and lifting practical cooperation with the four countries, Zhang said.

Italy, as the world's seventh largest economy, was actively expanding cooperation with foreign countries amid the European debt crisis, he said, and Cuba was at a key moment of adjusting its economic policy, while Uruguay and Chile were speeding up their economic growth.

All four countries saw opportunities in the steady and rapid development of the Chinese economy and pinned high hopes on deepening cooperation in economy and trade and investment with China, Zhang said.

China was now Italy's biggest trading partner in Asia, Cuba's and Uruguay's second biggest, Chile's No.1 and Latin America's second largest trading partner, according to the Chinese deputy foreign minister.

The 61 new agreements with these countries covered economy and trade, finance, energy, infrastructure construction, agriculture, culture and tourism, which highlighted the solid cooperation basis, huge potential and broad prospects between China and these countries, Zhang said.

PROMOTING CULTURAL, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES

Zhang said Xi stressed the importance of promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges during his visits and proposed enhancing exchanges and communication between academics, the press and civil groups at various levels and in various forms.

Xi underscored that youth was the hope of the future, noting China was willing to make efforts with the four nations to create more opportunities for the young to communicate, learn from each other and make friends, in a bid to build a social basis for the long-term development of China-EU and China-Latin American ties, Zhang said.

PROMOTING CHINA-EU, CHINA-L.AMERICAN RELATIONS

Xi introduced China's socio-economic development during the visit, noting China would unswervingly pursue the path of peace and development, stick to the opening-up strategy of mutual benefit and win-win results and would like to join hands with Europe and Latin America to build a harmonious world featuring lasting peace and common prosperity, Zhang said.

The four nations' leaders praised China's achievements in reform and development, believing China was an important stabilizer and driver for global peace and development, Zhang said.

The four countries also voiced willingness to maintain and develop sound EU-China and Latin American-China relations, and strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on major international and regional issues, he added.

Zhang said the Chinese vice president's visit was a successful trip that expanded consensus, promoted friendship, deepened cooperation and sought common development with the four countries.