LIMA - Peru
and China on Thursday took a first official step toward a free trade
agreement.
Peru's Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry said in a statement the two
countries agreed on Thursday to do feasibility studies for an eventual free
trade agreement.
"China is open to actively developing an economic and trade relationship with
Peru," China Trade Minister Bo Xilai said in a letter to his Peruvian
counterpart.
It is the first step in what could be a long process but it officially puts a
trade agreement on both countries' agendas.
Peru
is one of the world's top silver producers, No. 3 producer of copper and zinc, and
No. 5 gold producer.
