President of China's Xinhua News Agency Cai Mingzhao reads a letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to congratulate Xinhua News Agency on the 85th anniversary of its founding at a ceremony marking its anniversary in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2016. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
SANTIAGO/SAN JOSE, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis have congratulated Xinhua, China's official news agency, on its upcoming 85th anniversary.
In a message Wednesday addressed to Xinhua President Cai Mingzhao, Chilean President Bachelet expressed her "sincerest congratulations to all the men and women that work at the Xinhua News Agency, on its 85th anniversary."
"The Xinhua News Agency has served as a bridge of understanding, cooperation and friendship between Chile and China, as well as between Latin America and China, thanks to its international influence as an omnimedia conglomerate," Bachelet added.
The Chilean president praised the Chile-China ties, underscoring the fact that Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with China, the first Latin American country to recognize China's status as a market economy, and the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement with the Asian giant.
"Today, China has positioned itself as our largest trade partner worldwide, our leading source of imports and the leading destination for our exports," said Bachelet.
A joint picture of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (L) and Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis. (Xinhua)
"Throughout the process of developing ties, the value of media such as Xinhua has stood out," said the president, adding the news agency "has in addition to seriously fulfilling its informative task, become an important and indispensable force in promoting the strategic partnership between Chile and China."
"I would like to send, from Costa Rica, my warmest and most fraternal congratulations to China's Xinhua News Agency on its 85th anniversary," said Solis in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.
"I hope that for many more years to come, you can continue to inform the world of China's grand vision, and to unite the countries on earth (with your reports) in the pursuit of peace and hope for all," Solis said.
Solis said the momentum of bilateral ties is "very positive," and China has given Costa Rica a lot of help in economic development and cultural exchanges since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2007.
The president vowed to contribute to improving ties between China and Latin America as a whole.
The Xinhua News Agency was born on Nov. 7, 1931 as the Red China News Agency in Ruijin in southeast China. It changed to its current name in January 1937 in Yan'an in northwest China.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xinhua became the state news agency.
With 85 years of development, Xinhua now operates more than 30 domestic bureaus and 180 overseas bureaus and branches worldwide.
