LIMA - Peru and China signed an initial agreement here on Monday, which allows Peruvian products to be sold directly to Chinese consumers through e-commerce.

The deal enables Peruvian producers to set up stores on Tmall Global, the online retail site operated by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and billed as a dedicated bridge between Chinese online shoppers and overseas retailers.

The agreement is expected to bring Peruvian exporters closer to Chinese consumers and the value chain of Peruvian products will be fully developed, Vice President of the Peruvian Association of Exporters Eduardo Amorrortu said at the signing ceremony.

"E-commerce has been developing very rapid. It has had a great impact on the economy and traditional modes of consumption have changed," said Vice President of the Association of Chinese Companies in Peru (AECP) Kong Aimin.

An increasing number of Chinese consumers are shopping online. Scores of countries have opened their own pavilions on Tmall Global, including Holland, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Australia and Thailand.