President leaves Beijing for seven-day journey

President Xi Jinping set out on Friday to begin a seven-day visit to Latin America and the Caribbean.

His trip to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico — his second foreign trip since taking office — is expected to generate a series of cooperative economy and trade agreements as well as others covering education and culture, according to the Foreign Ministry.

After the visit, Xi will stop in California on June 7 and 8 for his first face-to-face talks with US President Barack Obama.

The summit, being held at the Sunnylands estate of late publishing tycoon Walter Annenberg, is expected to come up with some guidelines on how to establish a "new type of relationship between the major powers" — a concept that China has been striving for.

In Trinidad and Tobago — the first leg of the trip — Xi will meet leaders from nine Caribbean countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

Veteran diplomats said the arrangements show the new Chinese leadership greatly values ties with Latin America and the Caribbean, and will continue to strengthen cooperation with partners in the region.

"The Latin America and Caribbean region is one of the most dynamic and promising regions in the world," said Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Kunsheng.

Trade volume between China and the region reached $261.2 billion in 2012, up by 8.7 percent year-on-year, he said.

Yang Youming, former Chinese ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, said: "Xi's visit to the country will be historic, as it marks the first time a Chinese president has visited the English-speaking nation."

Yang said Trinidad and Tobago has expanded economic cooperation with China on trade and infrastructure construction since they established diplomatic ties 39 years ago.

Li Changhua, the former Chinese ambassador to Costa Rica, said Xi's visit there and his meetings with the leaders of nine Caribbean countries, show that China treats all countries equally, regardless of their size.

"Most Caribbean countries are not big in size or economically, but they are members of the United Nations and have supported China on a number of issues that are of core interest to us," Li said.

Xi's stop in Costa Rica is scheduled between Sunday and Tuesday.

China is Costa Rica's second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $6.17 billion last year, a 30.5 percent annual rise, according to figures from the Foreign Ministry.

Local media said Costa Rica wants to have further cooperation with China on energy, trade, environment, infrastructure, education and culture.

Xi's last stop will be Mexico, a key emerging economy considered one of China's most important partners in the Latin American region.

China is Mexico's second-largest trading partner, while Mexico is China's second-largest trading partner in Latin America, according to the Foreign Ministry.

During his visit, Xi will also deliver a speech at the Congress of the Union in Mexico.