Peruvian Prime Minister Salomon Lerner said that China’s direct investments in the country would increase between 30% and 40% in the next two years. China became this year Peru’s main trade partner.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde who this week will be visiting Latinamerica said that Brazil, Mexico and Peru, like to many other countries in the region have done remarkably well over the past few years and can provide some lessons to the advanced countries.

By MAGGIE JARUZEL POTTER

European Union and Latin American leaders called for a quicker pace in concluding the EU/Mercosur cooperation and trade negotiations. The statement took place during the meeting in Brussels of the Euro-Latinamerica Parliamentary assembly.

The president of Spain’s banking group Santander Emilio Botin described Brazil as “a very interesting market for Spain” following a meeting with Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff.