Foreign and Military Affairs

Chile, China must make full use of trade deal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-13 10:40

SANTIAGO - Chile and China must make full use of their free trade agreement signed in 2005, which has already helped China become Chile's number one trade partner, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said at a press conference on Friday.

"Our free trade agreement is still young. We have to take advantage of it in benefit of both nations," said Pinera during his first press conference since taking office on Thursday. "We are looking forward to more trade, investment and cultural collaboration."

China was Chile's largest trade partner last year with Chilean exports to China rising more than 20 percent to around $11 billion. Chile's trade surplus with China represented more than half of the nation's total.

"I am sure that China is going to be the most important country in the world sooner or later," said Pinera, while noting that the year 2010 will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.