Panelists discuss tech innovation and development at the launch ceremony for Chile Week in Beijing on Nov 1, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The thriving China-Chilean economic and trade cooperation will be further bolstered by the upcoming China International Import Expo, officials and company executives of the two countries said at a Chile Week seminar in Beijing on Nov 1.
Chile Week aims to project the participation of Chile in the Belt and Road Initiative in the technological and financial fields, and seeks to attract innovative investments in these areas. This year's Chile Week was scheduled in November, instead of previous years' August or September, to coincide with the expo, to be held in Shanghai starting Nov 5.
Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce of China, regarded the China-Chile relationship as a good example of cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Chile was the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement with China, and the bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached $35.4 billion last year, four times its size than when the agreement was signed.
As China's third-largest trading partner in Latin America, Chile's food and beverages such as blueberries and wine are welcomed happily in China. Chile is the second largest fruit exporter to China, and the third largest wine exporter to China, the minister said.
The two countries upgraded their free trade agreement on Nov 11 last year, which will go into effect on Jan 1, 2019. According to the minister, the two countries will enhance operations under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and conduct cooperation in multiple fields such as agriculture, infrastructure and tourism.
The China International Import Expo, the first of its kind in China, will provide further opportunities for overseas commodities and services, the minister added.
According to Chilean Ambassador Luis Schmidt, the country is willing to conduct cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and also mentioned the two parties will sign a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative on Friday. The CIIE is a key component of multilateral relations, the ambassador added.
Chile will showcase its products and export services at the country pavilion, and display high-quality, healthy food at the food pavilion. 15 Chilean enterprises and five industries, namely wine, fruit, pork, avocado and olive oil, will be showcased at the expo.
According to Steven Fang, CEO of EAE Mall, China Eastern Airlines, hundreds of flights are bringing cherries from Chile to China directly. The first batch of fresh king crabs will be transported from Chile to China next week, he added.
Fang also noted Chile salmon, cherries and king crabs are being introduced to all of China, not only metropolitan areas like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Daniel Meng, head of fresh global sourcing for Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, said Chilean food products are welcomed at e-commerce stores and he is looking forward to the country's huge pavilion at CIIE.
