PANAMA CITY, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is prepared to bolster its relations with Latin America and lift ties to a higher level, a senior Chinese political advisor said here on Monday.

Liu Qibao, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 13th China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit.

China and Latin America are significant among developing countries and emerging market countries, said Liu. He added that building a China-Latin American community with a shared future proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in recent years would usher in a new era of China-Latin America relations.

China is prepared to work with Latin America to jointly build the Belt and Road and deepen economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, he said.

Panama's president Laurentino Cortizo also attended the summit and met with the visiting CPPCC delegation led by Liu.

Liu conveyed President Xi's cordial greetings to the Panamanian president, and Cortizo asked Liu to convey his greetings and wishes to Xi.

After delivering the keynote speech, Liu visited the China-Latin America Trade and Investment Exhibition together with Cortizo.

Liu also held talks with Panamanian National Assembly President Marcos Castillero and Panamanian Foreign Minister Alejandro Ferrer.