On May 25, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang and Paula Estévez, Undersecretary of International Economic Relations of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the 22nd meeting of the China-Chile Joint Economic and Trade Commission in Beijing. The two sides held in-depth discussions on deepening bilateral economic and trade ties and strengthening cooperation at the regional and multilateral levels.

Li noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. He expressed China’s readiness to work with Chile to fully leverage the commission’s role in guiding bilateral economic and trade cooperation and to deepen practical collaboration. It is hoped that the Chilean side to provide a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses operating in Chile.

Li said that China and Chile have carried out productive cooperation on multilateral occasion. Given the growing uncertainties in the external environment and rising geopolitical risks, the two countries should conduct closer coordination in multilateral areas, resolute safeguarding of the multilateral trading system, support the WTO in playing a bigger role, and enhance cooperation within APEC and other regional frameworks.

Estévez reaffirmed Chile’s commitment to developing relations with China, noting that China is Chile’s largest trading partner and an important source of investment, and that economic and trade cooperation with China is of strategic importance to Chile. Chile is ready to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation further, strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral frameworks, and elevate practical cooperation between the two countries to new heights. (Released on May 26)