Unasur says China evaluates new bilateral cooperation areas

China is evaluating new areas of cooperation with the countries of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), the 12-nation regional bloc said on Tuesday.

Unasur's secretary general, Ernesto Samper, met with Yin Hengmin, special representative of the Chinese government on Latin American affairs, on Monday for a new portfolio of opportunities in Unasur, which focused on such sectors as infrastructure, science and technology, said a press release issued by the bloc's headquarters in Ecuador.

Yin said China wants to work with Unasur on the basis of equality and mutual trust and will analyze the projects presented to China, according to the press release.

"I am certain we will be able to explore new areas to work with Unasur," Yin said. Unasur groups Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Yin also added that China views its relationship with Unasur nations as being of great value, and is keen to increase dialogue and cooperation, according to the press release.

According to Yin, this cooperation benefits from a 20-billion-U.S. dollar special fund for infrastructure, preferential credits totalling 10 billion dollars and a cooperation fund worth 5 billion dollars.

Meanwhile, a new cooperation fund worth 30 billion dollars will also seek to boost economic development in the region.

The representative said China is ready to boost South-South cooperation through preferential credits as well as multilateral cooperation against drug trafficking and poverty.

For his part, Samper highlighted the importance of the convergence between Unasur and China.

"Our ties with China prove the 12 Unasur countries can speak in one voice and with one opinion," said the former Colombian president.

Source: XINHUA