Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

China's investment in Peru's Chancay Megaport marks a new milestone in the growing China-Peru friendship and is expected to boost local tourism and economy, according to Peruvian Vice Minister of Tourism Madeleine Burns Vidaurrazaga.

Located 80 kilometers north of Lima, the Chancay Port will reduce sea freight time from Peru to Asia from 45 days to just 23. With shorter transit times and lower logistics costs, companies like Warmpaca will be able to deliver popular Peruvian products, such as its famous alpaca dolls, to Chinese customers much faster.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) at a Chinese Park, the vice minister emphasized the significance of this new port, calling it an important tourist resource and a symbol of the enduring friendship between China and Peru.

"For us, it's very important. It's a new resource, tourist resource made from the Chinese community here in Peru and reminds us of how long the Chinese people are in Peru helping to develop our economy. Now we have a new, a big new Inca Trail, which is Chancay to Shanghai," said Vidaurrazaga.

Regarding the Chancay Port, the vice minister highlighted the environment-friendly initiatives surrounding the project, which aim to protect local wildlife populations.

"We are really surprised when visiting Chancay Port. Everything is technology in that port. But it is very important that they really care about environmental issues, inclusive issues. Even we are working together for a new tourism plan for Chancay Port, because a lot of people will visit Chancay. It's very near to Lima, but also they have a wonderful gastronomy and a special place like Caral that is more than 5,000 years before Christ. So it's very ancient. So it's the first city in the world created for commercial things, not for a war, not for protection, just for commercial market. So it is very important," said Vidaurrazaga.

Looking ahead, Vidaurrazaga believes the Chancay Port will foster the development of Peru, both in terms of investment and tourism.

"Chancay Port also will increase the movement between China and Peru. And now we are looking for more tourism. We notice the investment of China in Peru is growing. So even in the schools, the young people are interested to learn mandarin, because Peru has a very open economy too, we sign agreements with 122 countries, and we are open to the world economy. So this is a new way as the president of China said, this is a new global way to exchange our customs, our goods, to make friendship with all the countries," said Vidaurrazaga.

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Two political leaders from Taiwan have spoken out against recent remarks by Lai Ching-te, who claimed that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 pertains only to China's representation at the UN and has "nothing to do with Taiwan."

Their comments came at the Sixth Cross-Strait Exchange Seminar held on Friday in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Lai, at a separate event, asserted that Taiwan is a "sovereign independent nation," drawing criticism from Taiwan's Labor Party President Wu Rongyuan and New Party Chairman Wu Cherng-dean.

"The resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly fully reflects and solemnly affirms the one-China principle. Apart from that, a series of international legal documents after World War II, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have clearly stated that China has sovereignty over Taiwan. What Lai said has distorted the legal principles and historical facts. Now, the Taiwan separatists are colluding with external forces and going against the motherland. That’s really ridiculous and will only turn out to be a chess piece of others," said Wu Rongyuan.

"Such a Taiwan separatist. Lai tries stubbornly to distort the facts, but what he says and does cannot change everything. There is no dispute that Taiwan is part of China. The compatriots on the Chinese mainland and in Taiwan all know that. So now we are not talking about whether we should reunify the country or not. We are talking about starting to study how to achieve reunification and the great rejuvenation of the nation for the people. I have full confidence that this is the trend and we should work together in this direction," said Wu Cherng-dean.

Both party leaders reiterated that there is only one China and that reunification remains an irreversible trend.

Taiwan party leaders criticize Lai Ching-te for distorting historical facts