Boosting ties with China priority for Chile: president

Developing relations with China is one of Chile's high priorities, President Sebastian Pinera said on Wednesday.

Pinera told a press conference that Chile attaches importance to its ties with China and prioritizes a comprehensive development of Chile-China relations.

"China has become our biggest trading partner," Pinera said, adding that Chile's exports to China account for one quarter of its total exports.

The president said Chile signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in 2005 and hoped this could deepen Chile-China relations that were forged 40 years ago.

Pinera said the Chile-China cooperation has been enhanced in trade, investment and technology in recent years, particularly since 2006 when the FTA came into force. "And the trend of development will continue," he said.

The president also said he would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled for Nov. 13-14 in Yokohama, Japan.

Source: Xinhua