Li Keqiang Meets with President Sebastian Pinera of Chile

On April 24, 2019, Premier Li Keqiang met with President Sebastian Pinera of Chile at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Li Keqiang expressed that Chile is the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. President Xi Jinping held fruitful talks with Mr. President, which has injected new impetus into the in-depth development of China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership. The bilateral trade between China and Chile grew last year against the backdrop of a global slowdown, which showed the great potential for cooperation between the two countries. It is hoped that both sides will look to the future and take the in-depth and joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to align the two countries' development strategies, upgrade the China-Chile Free Trade Zone, and expand practical cooperation in areas including transportation infrastructure, electricity, agriculture, mining and innovation. The Chinese side is willing to import more high-quality products from Chile, take full advantage of digital economy platforms such as e-commerce, and deepen economic and trade cooperation with other Latin American countries with the help of the China-Chile Free Trade Zone to push forward the overall relations and cooperation between China and Latin America.

Sebastian Pinera said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Chile and China 50 years ago, both sides have witnessed fruitful results in the development of bilateral relations and cooperation. The People's Republic of China has scored remarkable and great achievements since its founding 70 years ago. The Belt and Road Initiative has injected new vitality into the millennia-old Silk Road and the Chilean side stands ready to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides have completed the upgrading of the bilateral free trade agreement and Chile is willing to take it as an opportunity to promote cooperation in various areas and push the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership for greater development.

Xiao Jie attended the meeting.