China has signed eight bilateral accords with Peru, including one aimed at setting export and import standards for Peruvian grapes and Chinese apples.

Trade between the two nations increased by 51 per cent last year to more than $2bn and represented 16 per cent of Peru’s total foreign trade, according to Peru’s Foreign Trade Minister Alfredo Ferrero.

Mr Ferrero also said that Peru is China’s fifth largest Latin American trading partner.

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said Peru would become China’s strategic partner, and that all of South America would benefit from the agreements.

“Peru has become the gateway to South America and we hope that the diversification of our commercial relations of investment between Peru and China won’t only be bilateral,” he said.