Premier Li suggests greater China-Chile trade cooperation

BEIJING - Premier Li Keqiang on Monday urged greater China-Chile trade and development cooperation ranging from infrastructure building to financial services.

Li made the remarks at a meeting with visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, who is in Beijing to attend the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Chile is the first Latin-American country to sign a Free Trade Agreement with China. Li said the two countries should well implement the agreement and set an example for free trade development between developing countries.

China is willing to invest in infrastructure development in Chile such as railway, harbor, hydroelectricity and telecommunication, while taking part in connectivity development in South America, Li said.

China also hopes to expand farm produce trade and is keen on discussing financial cooperation including currency swap and trade settlement in local currencies, he said.

"We hope the Chilean side can approve Chinese banks to open branches in Chile at an early stage," he said.

China places great importance to relations with Lain-American countries including Chile and would like to work with them, he said.

It will well prepare for the first ministerial meeting of a forum between China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Beijing next year, he said.

Bachelet told Li that Chile is willing to maintain close exchanges between senior officials and at all levels and expand cooperation with China through existing dialogue mechanisms and in the free trade area.