Peru\'s foreign ministry released a special series of stamps Wednesday to honor and celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Peru and China. Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meier said the stamp issuance paid a tribute to the important event in Peru\'s diplomatic history. \"By establishing diplomatic relations in 1971, our two countries began a road of collaboration and mutual respect, which has helped bring about a substantial development in bilateral topics of mutual interest,\" Meier said. The sound development allowed the two sides to upgrade bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership in 2008, the diplomat said. Chinese Ambassador to Peru Zhao Wuyi said the past 40 years witnessed that China became Peru\'s largest trading partner, with both countries continuing to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in politics, trade, culture and education. China and Peru established diplomatic relations on Nov. 2, 1971.