Chinese FM holds phone talk with Chilean counterpart

Contestants pose for photos with a staff member after the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Chilean College Students at the Santo Tomas University in Vina del Mar, Chile, June 9, 2022. (Santo Tomas University/Handout via Xinhua)

China-Chile relations have weathered the tests of international vicissitudes, transcended the change of governments, have been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries for long and set many "number one" records, thus deserving to be especially cherished, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone talk with his Chilean counterpart Antonia Urrejola on Tuesday at the latter's request.

Wang said that China-Chile relations have weathered the tests of international vicissitudes, transcended the change of governments, have been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries for long and set many "number one" records, thus deserving to be especially cherished.

Wang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chilean President Gabriel Boric have maintained strategic communication and given direction for the development of bilateral relations. China appreciates the fact that Chile treats its relations with China as a top diplomatic priority, and is willing to make joint efforts with the Chilean side to give full play to the pioneering and stable advantages of China-Chile relations, and lift the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership to higher levels.

The sixth shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac arrive at the Santiago international airport in Santiago, Chile, March 21, 2021. (Chilean Ministry of Health/Handout via Xinhua)

Wang said both China and Chile are committed to upholding and practicing multilateralism, and advocate democratization of international relations. Firstly, it is necessary to uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law.

It is also necessary to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, particularly respect the sovereignty of all countries, oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs, continuously strengthen and improve global governance, implement the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, achieve international synergy to deal with global challenges and advance the cause of peace and development of humankind.

For his part, Urrejola said Chile is proud to be the first country in South America to establish diplomatic relations and sign a free trade agreement with China. China is not only the biggest trading partner and the biggest export market for Chile, but also a comprehensive strategic partner for Chile with a broad space for cooperation. Chile has always been firmly abiding by the one-China principle, and this is an important political basis for Chile-China relations.

Photo taken on June 6, 2020 shows the electric buses manufactured by Chinese company BYD heading for Santiago from the Port San Antonio in Chile.(BYD Company Limited/Handout via Xinhua)

He said that under the current situation, respecting international law and the UN Charter and upholding multilateralism bear special significance. Chile welcomes the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by Xi, and supports China in joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.

The two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, set a benchmark for jointly building a green Silk Road, a digital Silk Road and a healthy Silk Road, expand new cooperation potential in services trade, digital economy, smart city, 5G and clean energy.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over achievements in trade and commerce cooperation, and agreed to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, to provide a sound business environment for companies from both countries to invest in the other country.

The two sides will continue to carry out anti-pandemic cooperation, jointly produce vaccines and engage in pharmaceutical research and development. Urrejola spoke highly of China's vaccine aid and help provided to accelerate the local production of vaccines in Chile.

The two sides will conduct a new round of dialogue on human rights via video link.

Wang said China is willing to conduct dialogue on human rights with all countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and is willing to work together with Chile to push forward the healthy and stable development of the international human rights cause.