MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chinese president on official trip to Latin America.

Chinese President Hu Jintao embarked Wednesday on a two-week tour of Latin America that includes stops in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cuba, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The Chinese leader plans to stop over in Portugal on his way out and spend time in Las Palmas, in Spain's Canary Islands, on the return trip, Spanish diplomats in Beijing told to the press.

This is "the first visit by President Hu Jintao to these Latin American countries since he took office. Surely it will be very significant for fostering bilateral relations," Deputy Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong said.

The president's delegation, which includes some 300 business executives and several Cabinet members, plans to focus on consolidating economic and trade agreements with Brazil, Argentina and Chile, countries with whom Beijing registered a $7 billion trade deficit last year.

Hu plans to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Argentina's Nestor Kirchner, Chile's Ricardo Lagos and Cuba's Fidel Castro.

The Chinese president also plans to discuss "matters on the bilateral agenda and other regional or international issues of mutual interest," officials in Beijing said. "Numerous accords will be signed," Zhou said, especially in the areas of politics, trade, culture and science.

Hu's official visit begins Nov. 12 in Brazil, where he intends to strengthen trade relations, particularly in energy, agriculture and technology. With bilateral trade totaling $7.98 billion in 2003, Brazil is China's strongest business partner in the region.

Hu will then head to Chile in time to attend a meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders Nov. 20-21 in Santiago.