The first Chinese commodity fair opened in Santiago on Wednesday, drawing more than 100 Chinese exhibitors.

 

Represented at the fair are more than 100 Chinese companies from Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other provinces, who will showcase a variety of Chinese products and technology, organizers said.

 

Addressing the opening of the fair, President of the China Shippers' Association Zhou Keren said the economies of China and Chile are highly complementary and there exists an unprecedented opportunity for the two countries to boost their trade and economic cooperation.

 

The coming into force of the free trade agreement between the two countries in October marked the beginning of a new period of fast growth for the cooperative partnership between the two countries, Zhou said at the fair, jointly organized by the China Shippers' Association, the Chinese embassy to Chile as well as some trading firms.

 

An official from the Chilean Foreign Ministry said the fair was aimed at promoting mutual understanding between the business circles of the two countries.

 

The three-day fair is expected to draw over 20,000 visitors.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2006)