Premier Li Keqiang attended a series of cultural exchange activities in Lima, capital of Peru, as part of his Latin American tour on May 23 local time, including a visit to historical relics of the Chavin and Inca cultures and photo exhibitions of the origins of Chinese culture.

Li said that amid the relics and pictures are the genes of civilization and unique cultural codes of China and Peru. Knowing these histories will open people’s minds in both countries, he added.

A Peruvian author told Li local slang and music of the Andes resonates well with the Chinese language and music and that we’re from the same origins. Li nodded and said: “Yes, we’re fellows.”

Li said Chinese civilization has many similarities with Peru’s Chavin and Inca cultures, including creativity, even though the two nations are in different parts of the globe. He said there is scope for China, Peru and Latin America to learn from each other to bring about more innovation and creativity.

Chinese and Latin American civilization, although tens of thousands of kilometers apart, “shook hands in Peru” and Li said the exhibition guided people through two extensive civilizations.