China wants to consolidate ties with Chile: vice president

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Chile's President of the Chamber of Deputies Patricio Melero, in Santiago, capital of Chile, June 10, 2011. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said Friday China wants to establish a closer comprehensive cooperative partnership with Chile to benefit both peoples.

At a meeting with Patricio Melero Abaroa, president of Chile's Chamber of Deputies, Xi said bilateral relations have seen great progress since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 41 years ago, and especially since 2004 when they established a comprehensive cooperative partnership. Such progress has brought substantive benefits to both peoples, Xi said.

Xi said his current visit to Chile is aimed at implementing the consensus the two heads of state have reached, promoting practical cooperation between the two countries, and deepening the friendship between the two peoples.

China has always attached great importance to the development of China-Chile ties from a strategic point of view, Xi noted.

On future cooperation in the second decade of the 21st century, the Chinese vice president said both sides must, under the complex and fast-changing international circumstances, adhere to the fundamental interests of their peoples, maintain high-level exchanges, and keep contacts at all levels.

Moreover, Xi said, both sides must bolster practical cooperation in all fields, expand people-to-people exchanges, and work closely together in multilateral areas to further advance the China-Chile comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Meanwhile, exchanges between the two countries' parliaments are also a crucial part of bilateral relations, Xi said. "The Chinese side highly values the role parliamentary exchanges can play in promoting bilateral ties," he said.

Melero said Xi's visit is a great opportunity for both countries to enhance cooperative ties, expand cooperation and deepen friendship between the peoples.

The Chilean parliament is willing to further advance close communication with China's National People's Congress and strengthen its coordination role in multilateral international parliamentary organizations such as the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Melero said.

It will also support cooperation between the two countries in areas such as culture, high-tech, marine resources and conservation, Melero said.


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Source: Xinhua

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