Premier Li Keqiang landed in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on Monday starting his visit to Latin America, which also takes him to Colombia, Peru and Chile. High hopes have been placed on Li's first visit to the region as premier, with many expecting him to further deepen China-Latin America cooperation, especially in equipment manufacturing, infrastructure construction, and trade and investment.

The focus is more on equipment manufacturing, for it plays a strategic role in a nation's economic development and security. Little wonder then that it tops Li's agenda.

On Tuesday, Li and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff witnessed the signing of bilateral deals worth $27 billion, including an action plan to encourage cooperation in industrial production and feasibility research on a railway linking the Atlantic coast in Brazil to Pacific coast in Peru.