Top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived in Santiago on Tuesday for a three-day official visit to Chile.

 

In a statement delivered at the airport upon his arrival, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, said that he expects to hold discussions with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Chilean parliament speakers about Sino-Chilean relations and issues of mutual concern.

 

Wu said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1970, China and Chile have been engaged in close cooperation in politics, economy, trade, technology and culture.

 

In the new century, the full-scale partnership of cooperation the two countries have forged is developing well and the relationship between China and Chile has entered a new phase of development.

 

Chile is the last leg of Wu's three-nation South America tour which has taken him to Brazil and Uruguay.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)