Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 12, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)
SANTIAGO, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chile is ready to be a bridge between China and Latin America and hopes to address challenges jointly with China, former Chilean ambassador to Beijing said.
Fernando Reyes Matta said Chile is "happy to receive Chinese President Xi Jinping, not only to speak of the path we have traveled together in the past, but also to strengthen what we can do together in the future."
Xi will pay a week-long state visit to Ecuador, Peru and Chile from Nov.17 to 23 and attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 19 to 20 in Lima, capital city of Peru.
During his stay in Chile, Xi is scheduled to hold talks with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, attend a signing ceremony for a number of agreements and issue a joint statement, according to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao.
"Chile has always been present to help make dialogue between China and Latin America," said Reyes.
Chile was the first country in South America to establish diplomatic ties with China, and was among the first to recognize it as a market economy, and to back its entry into the World Trade Organization. It was also the first Latin American country to sign a bilateral free-trade agreement with China in 2005, which went into effect the next year.
Ties between Chile and China "are excellent," said Reyes, noting 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the bilateral free-trade agreement.
The agreement "has been very important to increasing trade, but the main product gained over these past 10 years has been trust," said Reyes.
"Today, Chile has greater trust in China, and China has greater trust in Chile, and knows how to open new possibilities of cooperation," said the diplomat, underscoring the need for joint efforts in energy and urbanization, both key contemporary issues for China.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) shakes hands with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet at the opening of an economic and trade seminar marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Chile diplomatic relations and the seventh meeting of the China-Chile Business Council in Santiago, capital of Chile, May 26, 2015. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
There are many challenges the two can tackle together, said Reyes, such as "the challenge of developing modern agroindustrial techniques to boost the potential of generating new foods, as well as creating new maritime routes in the Pacific Ocean, which both China and Chile share."
Future projects potentially include an underwater fiber optic cable linking the coasts of China and Chile to strengthen connectivity with South America.
"We have new topics and potential projects to dream about, create and imagine, with feet planted in the 21st century, to develop both nations," said Reyes.
The big questions are "what can we create together for global markets?" and "How can we insert these China-Latin America ties into the global economy?" said Reyes.
"That is today's challenge, and I believe the talks between leaders at Peru's APEC summit should take place within that framework."
Talking about the second forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to be hosted by Chile next year, Reyes said "On that date, we need to have a proposal, a platform, a vision of these new matters so we can talk with our Chinese friends in a different way, with a long-term outlook and a more expanded scope for bilateral cooperation."
