Beijing, May 11 (RHC) –- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will this month visit four South American countries, including Brazil, officials said today.

Li will pay official visits to the Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Chile from May 18th to May 26th, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing.

China's trade with Latin America has surged as Beijing remains on the lookout for resources to power its remarkable economic growth. Earlier this year, Beijing hosted leaders from 30 Latin American and Caribbean countries in the region for a China-CELAC forum.

CELAC -- the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States -- includes all countries of the Americas except for the U.S. and Canada.