Chilean cosmetics maker praises Chinese work ethic

Carlos Amin Merino, CEO of Coesam Group (left) and Jaime Amin Avaria (right), director of marketing of Coesam Group welcoming Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Chile. Li Ge / China Daily

With a huge potential market in China, cosmetics maker Coesam Group plans to manufacture its products in China starting in July.

The Santiago-based company already has been selling its rosehip oil, and grape, snail and rosehip creams in China.

The glass bottles that Coesam uses to contain its products are made in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

"China has the good machines, for agriculture, for fishing and for cosmetics," Coesam CEO Carlos Amin Merino told China Daily. "Chinese machines, Chinese operators and Chinese technologies are highly in need in Chile.

"Your country is the best country," Merino said. "People are very hard working, which is different from people in other countries."

"Chinese people make new cities and houses very fast, said Merino's son, Jaime Amin Avaria, who is marketing director for Coesam.

Merino prepared a gift for Cheng Hong, the wife of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is on a four-country official visit to South America, with Chile being the last stop.

Merino wants to present it to her on Tuesday, when he will participate in a meeting attended by the premier and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

"I'm interested to see him," Merino said. "If I have the chance to meet him, I want to tell him 'Welcome to Chile. I want Chile and China to be good partners,' " Merino said.

"Premier Li Keqiang is the best leader for the best country in the world," Merino said. "The premier's visit is very important as it enhances the face- to-face relations."

Merino has four families from China working for him on a farm in Chile.

"The Chinese farmers love the earth," said Avaria. "We never have a problem doing business with Chinese people."

"People are very nice (in China)," Merino said. "Your system is very interesting. Children and seniors are protected in China. On the subway, I always see people give up their seats to the seniors, which won't happen here."

In June, Coesam will import a capsule-manufacturing machine from China, which will be the first one in Chile.

Merino said there are many potential areas in which China and Chile could work together.

"In 10 years, the world will be facing water (shortage) problems," Merino said. "It'll be good to have Chinese military to protect and save our Antarctic."

Merino has been to China 26 times; in 2008 and 2009, he traveled there with the Chilean president and met former Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"Shanghai is beautiful; Beijing is historical and important," Merino said. "It's very interesting to see the people in China. Forty years ago, people only rode bicycles.

"Now they are all driving cars with few bicycles," he said. "The evolution is huge and fast."

Contact the writer at leshuodong@chinadailyusa.com