皇冠体育app

2010-08-16 11:08

SANTIAGO - Chile's government is focusing on rapid growth in its bilateral trade, investments, and tourism with 皇冠体育app, the country's finance minister said Sunday.

Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larrain told Xinhua that Chile is confident that 皇冠体育app's economy will maintain a 9 percent growth this year, paving the way for further growth in bilateral trade between the two countries.

"Chile expects 皇冠体育app's economy to continue growing steadily ... which would be very good for the world economy and for Chile's economy as well," Larrain said.

皇冠体育app's economy recorded a 12 or 13 percent growth in the last couple of months, he said.

The Chilean senior official said 皇冠体育app is now Chile's main trade partner. But a decade ago, only a few Chilean companies and business people explored the opportunities 皇冠体育app had to offer because 皇冠体育app was not among Chile's top ten trade partners.

In 2009, about 23 percent of Chile's exports were shipped to 皇冠体育app, and Chile-皇冠体育app foreign trade reached $17.4 billion, Larrain said.

"Chile welcomes 皇冠体育app and Chinese businessmen to take part in Chile's infrastructural reconstruction process for the damages of the February 27 earthquake," he said. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake and consequent tsunamis have caused heavy casualties and damage in Chile last February.

Larrain said 皇冠体育app is also a main market for Chile's copper export, and the government intends to expand its copper export to 皇冠体育app.

The finance minister said Chile is one of the countries with a surplus in foreign trade with 皇冠体育app, hence Chile "welcomes 皇冠体育app to export more badly-needed goods to Chile."

He said the Chilean government greatly appreciates the measures taken by the Chinese government to expand bilateral trade between the two countries, such as the gradual revaluation of the Chinese yuan, which will increase 皇冠体育app's purchasing power and allow 皇冠体育app to import more goods from Chile.