Latin American media have spoke highly of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visits to Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil over the past weeks.

In Mexico, local newspaper El Universal said Xi's stay in Mexico, though just 48 hours, has inspired great interest in China from the Mexican entrepreneurs.

Another local newspaper OEM said Xi's visit advanced the China-Mexico ties, enhanced political mutual trust, promoted friendship, extended consensus, expanded the strategic cooperation and boosted bilateral trade and investment.

Meanwhile, the El Financiero newspaper noted that Mexico and China have boosted their cooperation in international and regional economic affairs.

The two countries have enhanced their dialogue especially in such fields as tackling global financial crisis and engaging in the Doha round talks of the World Trade Organization, said the paper.

Jamaica's official news agency described China as a precious friend and an important partner. It said that the memorandums of understanding on economic, technological and investment cooperation between enterprises of the two countries offered new opportunities for further bilateral cooperation.

Colombian media have paid close attention to Xi's visit and made full coverage of his activities, especially his talks with Colombian leaders, the signing of bilateral cooperation pacts during his stay as well as the announcement that Colombia has become a destination for Chinese tourists.

El Tiempo, Colombia's major newspaper, said Xi's Latin American tour was designed to strengthen China's friendly cooperation with Latin American and the Caribbean nations and to boost their friendship.

"For the Colombian government, Xi's visit is of special interest because it aims to attract Chinese investors to the country," noted the paper.

Xi's visit has also hit the headlines of other leading Colombian newspapers, "China sets its eyes on Colombia," "Colombia bent on investment from China," "Colombia, China sign cooperation accords."

These stories highlighted the significance of Xi's visit to Colombia's bid for Chinese investment closer economic and trade cooperation.

They also hailed China's decision on listing Colombia as the destination for Chinese tourists, saying the move would boost Colombian tourism, create more jobs and raise its foreign currency revenue.

As Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon told a press conference Monday, Xi's visit "is a manifestation of the Chinese determination to identify common interests, broaden cooperation and boost exchanges and dialogue."

During Xi's stay in Venezuela, he and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez attended the signing ceremony for 12 agreements on bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, finance, energy and agriculture.

Local newspaper Diario Vea gave front-page coverage of Xi's visit for consecutive days, noting Venezuela has become a major oil supplier for China and a major trade partner in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Xi's visit will further deepen bilateral cooperation, it said.

During his visit to Brazil, both Xi and Brazilian leaders vowed to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries and to explore new ways and new fields for bilateral cooperation.

Xi's visit has drawn great media attention and given heavy coverage by Brazil's major media, including its news agency Agencia Brasil and major newspapers Folha de Sao Paulo, Valor Economico and Correio Brasiliense.

They highlighted that the two countries' efforts would help alleviate the impacts of the global financial crisis.

As Brazilian Vice Foreign Minister Roberto Jaguaribe put it, the strengthening of Brazil-China ties is of especial importance in time of global economic difficulty.

Xi started his six-nation tour on Feb. 8, which has taken him to Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. He is in Malta, the last leg of his tour.

Before leaving Brazil for Malta, Xi told local media that his Latin American tour was "packed with substantial activities and very fruitful."

Source: Xinhua