BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a political consultation with visiting Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Francisco Popolizio Bardales in Beijing on Aug 28.

Peru was the first Latin American country to sign a package of free trade agreements with China and actively support the joint construction of the Belt and Road. Wang said the two countries should further strengthen strategic coordination, jointly advocate multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the United Nations (UN) as the core.

He said 2021 is the 200th anniversary of Peru’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Peru. It is also the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The two sides should take this opportunity to push the bilateral relations to a new high.

Nestor Popolizio said Peru does not agree that the Belt and Road Initiative is a geostrategic policy, and believes the initiative will promote the common development of all participants. Peru is willing to work with China to implement multilateralism and promote free trade.

Wang mentioned that El Salvador has recently established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle, which is in line with international justice and the interests of the country and the people of El Salvador.

Nestor Popolizio said Latin American countries have the right to decide their own foreign policy and El Salvador has made the right choice.