Premier Li Keqiang, center, arrives in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil on the afternoon of May 18 local time to kick off his official visit to Latin America. [Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li praised Latin America's great contribution to human civilization and progress, saying it has played an important role in global development.

The China-Latin America relationship has, in recent years, achieved huge progress, entering a comprehensive partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development, he said.

Li said he was looking forward to furthering this traditional bilateral relationship, promoting production capacity cooperation, and facilitating two-way trade and investment, in order to upgrade the overall cooperation between China and Latin America.

During his visit to Brazil, Premier Li will have discussions with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and attend a joint press conference. They will also participate in a video foundation ceremony of a hydropower station project and a business summit between China and Brazil. Li will also meet presidents of the Federal Senate of the Brazilian National Congress and the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies.

In Rio De Janeiro, another stop of his Brazil trip, Premier Li is expected to visit exhibitions of Chinese equipment manufacturing.

Premier Li and his wife Cheng Hong arrived in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, after completing a transit visit in Ireland.