Senior official Wu Guanzheng on Friday met in Santiago with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on promotion of bilateral cooperation.

 

Wu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), spoke highly of the rapid development of the Sino-Chilean relations, saying that the Chinese side attaches great importance to the comprehensive cooperative partnership with Chile.

 

During the meeting, Wu expressed the hope the Chilean side will keep the momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries, increase mutual political trust and expand strategically common recognition.

 

He also called for continuously expanding the scale of bilateral trade, opening up new fields of cooperation and strengthening cooperation between the two countries' enterprises.

 

Wu, who flew here Thursday for a three-day good-will visit, also urged continued expansion of humanity exchanges, promotion of understanding and friendship between the two countries and peoples, strengthening of coordination in international affairs, safeguarding world peace and enhancing common development.

 

Wu also conveyed warm greetings to Bachelet from President Hu Jintao.

 

Bachelet expressed her thanks to President Hu for his warm greetings, and asked Wu to convey her best wishes to the Chinese leader.

 

The president said the two countries have kept exchanges of high-level visits for recent years, which has demonstrated the fine statue quo of the development of bilateral ties. She said she totally agreed with Wu over his evaluation of the bilateral ties and his proposals on further increasing exchanges and developing cooperation between the two countries.

 

The Chilean side will grasp the good opportunity of the development of bilateral relations and continue to expedite bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit on the basis of fairness, impartiality and mutual rendering of favor.

 

She also said the Chilean side hopes to further strengthen coordination with China in regional and international affairs, and Chile is willing to serve as a bridge between China and Latin American countries in developing their friendly relations.

 

On the same day, Wu also met with Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley Rioseco, exchanging views on further strengthening the friendly cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

 

The two men agreed that China and Chile should continue to expand the fields of the Sino-Chilean cooperation, enrich cooperation content and explore new forms of cooperation.

 

Foxley expressed the Chilean support for China to host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2007)