Xi Jinping Holds Talks with President Michelle Bachelet of Chile

The Two Heads of State Decide to Build China-Chile Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to Initiate a New Development Stage for Bilateral Relations

On November 22, 2016 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Michelle Bachelet of Chile in Santiago. The two heads of state spoke positively of the development of China-Chile relations and decided to lift bilateral relations to China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership so as to stimulate further development of China-Chile relations.

Xi Jinping pointed out that in Latin America, a proverb goes "real friends can reach your heart even from another pole of the earth." China and Chile are exactly friends of this kind. Although two countries are far apart, we enjoy close connection in heart, thus creating many "firsts" in China-Latin America relations. With high-level political mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win results in economy and ever closer multilateral coordination, China-Chile relations have entered a new phase featuring maturity and stability. Both China and Chile are at critical periods of development and are devoted to enhancing development through deepening reform. Standing at the new starting point of China-Chile relations, we should take proactive actions to maintain China-Chile relations in the forefront of China-Latin America relations.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China is willing to, together with Chile, step up the top-level design of bilateral relations, improve the building of free trade zone, expand investment cooperation, strengthen cooperation in technological innovation, win over public support and improve strategic coordination. China supports Chinese enterprises to participate in the construction of infrastructure, clean energy and others in Chile. The improvement of bilateral tourism cooperation is beneficial to people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China and Chile should strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral organizations.

Michelle Bachelet extended warm welcome to President Xi Jinping's visit to Chile. She noted that this visit will enhance Chile-China friendship and strengthen bilateral political dialogue and economic and trade connection. Chile is willing to take the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to deepen cooperation with China in various fields and develop new cooperation areas. The upgrade of Chile-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will vigorously expand bilateral cooperation in economy and trade. Chile welcomes more investment from Chinese enterprises and hopes to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as soon as possible. Chile stands ready to intensify coordination and cooperation with China in international affairs.

The two heads of state decided to upgrade China-Chile relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership so as to open a new chapter for China-Chile relations, facilitate long-term development of bilateral mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation and better benefit the two peoples.

Both sides agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, intensify communication at all levels and in all areas between governments, legislative bodies, political parties, local governments and others, firmly support each other's independent choice of development path in line with its own national conditions and continue to show firm support to each other on major issues concerning respective interests.

Both sides agreed to give play to the guiding role of the Joint Action Plan between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Chile signed in 2015 in mid-and-long term bilateral communication and cooperation in all fields, effectively utilize all bilateral cooperation mechanisms, initiate negotiations on the FTA upgrade at an early date and deepen bilateral economic and trade relations.

Both sides agreed to enhance the docking of development strategies and expand cooperation in such areas as mining, agriculture, manufacturing, information communication, infrastructure construction, finance, clean energy and small and medium-sized enterprises to facilitate industry integration and achieve advantage complementarity, mutual benefit and win-win results.

Both sides agreed to take the China-Latin America Cultural Exchange Year and the Chile Week as opportunities to broaden communication and cooperation in fields including culture, education, Antarctic science investigation, astronomical observation, earthquake precaution and disaster reduction, promote the early settlement of a Chinese Culture Center in Chile and expand personnel exchanges and tourism cooperation.

Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination on major global issues such as global economic governance, climate change, marine protection and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, deepen China-Latin America comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development, strengthen dialogues and cooperation between China and the Pacific Alliance, join hands in pushing forward the construction of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, enhance regional connectivity and build open economies to make greater contributions to world stability and prosperity.

After the talks, both heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as economy and trade, agriculture, quality inspection, culture, education, e-commerce, information communication and finance.

Both heads of state also met the press together.

Both sides issued the Joint Statement on Establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Chile.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping attended the grand welcoming ceremony held by Michelle Bachelet at the Constitution Square.

At 4:30 p.m. local time, Xi Jinping arrived at the Constitution Square by car with mounted escorts and was warmly welcomed by Michelle Bachelet. After the national anthems of both countries were played, Xi Jinping, accompanied by Michelle Bachelet, reviewed the honor guards of the Chilean Army and the Presidential Guard. Xi Jinping introduced Chinese delegation members to Michelle Bachelet and Michelle Bachelet introduced principal Chilean officials to Xi Jinping.

Before the welcoming ceremony, Xi Jinping laid a wreath to the monument of Bernardo O'Higgins, the liberator of Chile.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended above-mentioned activities.