Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and his Colombian counterpart Francisco Santos agreed here on Monday that bilateral cooperation is to be strengthened as several agreements were signed.

During talks with Santos, Xi said China and Colombia should continue the deepening of mutual political trust and exert efforts to increase cooperation in terms of commerce and investment.

Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos (R) meets with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Bogota Feb. 16, 2009. [Huang Jingwen/Xinhua]

The Chinese and Colombian vice presidents signed several agreements on collaboration in fields of economy, technology and finance after the meeting.

China and Colombia, both developing countries, have achieved remarkable progress in bilateral relations, with deepening political mutual trust and widening pragmatic cooperation, Xi said.

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (2nd R Front) holds talks with his Colombian counterpart Francisco Santos (2nd L) in Bogota, capital of Colombia, Feb. 16, 2009. [Huang Jingwen/Xinhua]

On the development of the bilateral relations, Xi said the peoples of China and Colombia enjoy traditional and bosom friendship and the two governments have attached great importance to the development of the bilateral ties and are determined to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Xi also said that the two sides, with a mutual understanding over each other's concerns, have timely exchanges of opinions on important matters of common interest.

Colombia adheres to the one-China policy over issues concerning Taiwan and Tibet, which China highly appreciates, Xi added.

Xi said that the world is experiencing complicated and profound changes, especially in such moments as the global financial crisis expands, which, according to him, should be withstood with joint efforts.

He, on behalf of the Chinese government, invited national enterprises to amplify business and investment in this South American country, and welcomed Colombia to further promote friendship and cooperation through the platform of World Expo Shanghai 2010.

Xi flew in the Colombian capital city Sunday afternoon from northern port Cartagena, where he met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on bilateral ties.

He will conclude his official visit to Colombia Monday evening and continue his six-leg tour to Venezuela.

The trip has already taken him to Mexico, Jamaica, and he will head towards Venezuela, Brazil and Malta.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2009)