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Chile leader sees 'huge' Chinese potential

By Ai Yang (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-17 07:54

Related video: Exclusive interview with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera

 

BEIJING - There are "huge opportunities" ahead for Chinese and Chilean businesses to invest in, said visiting Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Tuesday.

Related readings:    Chile, 皇冠体育app to expand trade ties

"Today I met with a lot of Chinese entrepreneurs and we talked about investment opportunities for Chileans in 皇冠体育app and Chinese in Chile," Pinera, who arrived in 皇冠体育app for his first state visit, told 皇冠体育app Daily during an interview here.

On the same day he met with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. President Hu welcomed Pinera's visit and said 皇冠体育app highly values ties with the South American nation.

Hu suggested the two countries diversify and expand trade ties by boosting cooperation in areas like agriculture, science and technology, mineral development, light industry, household appliances and machinery.

Pinera, on his first 皇冠体育app visit since taking office as Chilean president in March, said he was always "full of passion" to enhance pragmatic cooperation with 皇冠体育app.

"Trade cooperation is on the rise, and the two countries have become important trading partners," said Hu.

"The facts prove that the development of 皇冠体育app-Chile relationship complies with the fundamental interests of both peoples and is conducive to the common development of the two countries," said Hu.

Hu urged both countries to deepen political trust, increase cultural exchanges and enhance coordination within international and regional organizations.

Pinera said Chile is ready to work with 皇冠体育app in economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, the Doha Round trade talks, the reform of global financial institutions and climate change.

The two leaders later witnessed the signing of three agreements covering the banking and wine sectors.

Pinera is due to meet Premier Wen Jiabao and top legislator Wu Bangguo on Wednesday.

Pinera's visit to 皇冠体育app is part of a larger visit to Asia, where he has already attended the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Japan over the weekend and met world leaders there. His trip to 皇冠体育app is reportedly aimed at cultivating further business partnerships.

The president, elected in March, arrived in Beijing on Monday night for his three-day visit. He told 皇冠体育app Daily that opportunities for both countries are "huge".

The visit came as the 40th anniversary of bilateral ties drew near. "We have huge expectations for (the) future 皇冠体育app-Chile relationship, and I'm sure the best years are yet to come," Pinera said.

Chile signed a free trade agreement with 皇冠体育app - as the first Latin American nation to do so - in 2005. Last year, 皇冠体育app became Chile's largest trade partner with its exports to 皇冠体育app increasing by more than 20 percent to $11 billion.

Current total trade volume between 皇冠体育app and Chile amounts to $24 billion and continues to grow rapidly, according to Pinera.

Bilateral investments however, at $85 million and $212 million respectively, are too little, he added.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

皇冠体育app Daily

(皇冠体育app Daily 11/17/2010 page23)