Chile aims to deepen its bond of trust and mutual understanding with China through the upcoming fifth edition of Chile Week in China, said senior officials.
"All of Chile's agricultural guilds will come with us to China, such as the National Agriculture Society, the Fruit Exporters Association, and meat and dairy guilds, among others," Chilean Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker told Xinhua.
During the export promotion event, to be held in Beijing and Shanghai starting Wednesday, the delegation will also meet with local authorities, added Walker, who was in the southern Chilean city of Puerto Varas for the Third Senior Officials' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
"We are going to keep strengthening ties (with China). And as China's ambassador to Chile says, this relationship is just beginning, and we have much to grow and much to do in the future," the minister added.
The head of the General Directorate of International Economic Relations at Chile's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Rodrigo Yanez, said it is essential for his country to learn more about the Chinese market, as the Asian country is Chile's main trading partner.
China is the leading market for several top Chilean export products, such as wine and cherries. This is why Chile is looking to deepen mutual understanding and expand its role beyond being a mere supplier, Yanez told Xinhua on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.
The Chile Week program offers a "very important" opportunity to deepen ties, especially since an updatd bilateral free trade agreement took effect in March, he said.
This year, the South American country is bringing to the event small exporters "like honey producers who will be there for the first time," said Yanez.
Among the main advantages of the event are "person-to-person contacts" that can help "small exporters benefit from direct trade opportunities with their Chinese consumers and providers through the new e-commerce platforms that are rapidly developing," said Yanez.
