Xi meets Chilean president

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who is in Beijing for the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Xi said China and Chile should constantly enrich the connotation of their comprehensive strategic partnership, create a model of common development between China and Latin American countries, set a stellar example of South-South cooperation, and jointly promote the cause of peace and progress for humanity.

Xi said China is willing to work with Chile to consolidate political mutual trust, enhance exchanges of experience in governance, firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, and safeguard each other's sovereignty, security and development interests.

Xi called on the two countries to implement the Belt and Road cooperation plan, deepen cooperation on agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery, industrial investment, infrastructure and green minerals, and cultivate new growth points in astronomy, polar regions, artificial intelligence, biomedicine and digital economy.

China supports more Chinese enterprises in investing and doing business in Chile and welcomes more high-quality Chilean products to enter the Chinese market, he said.

He said both sides should enhance mutual learning among civilizations, carry out exchange activities in education, culture, media, and youth, and facilitate personnel exchanges.

As firm defenders of multilateralism and free trade, China and Chile should enhance multilateral collaboration to safeguard the common interests of the Global South, Xi added.

Noting that China has become Chile's most important trading partner, Boric said bilateral cooperation has benefited the two peoples.

He said Chile will firmly adhere to the one-China principle, and is ready to expand cooperation with China on trade, investment and artificial intelligence, jointly advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

All countries should adhere to free trade and mutual benefit and win-win results, and trade should not only serve the private interests of one country, Boric said, adding that waging a trade war leads nowhere.

Chile is willing to work with China to firmly safeguard multilateralism and the authority of the United Nations, insist on resolving differences through dialogue, and jointly uphold international fairness and justice, he said.

During his visit to China, the two sides signed a number of cooperation documents in fields such as economy, publishing, inspection and quarantine, media and think tanks.