Senior official Wu Guanzheng arrived in Santiago Thursday,
starting a three-day good-will visit to Chile.
In a written statement released at the airport upon his arrival,
Wu said the purpose of his visit is to conduct extensive exchanges,
enhance friendship, expand common recognition and promote
cooperation.
Wu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of
the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said
that he is very happy to visit this beautiful country at the
invitation of the Chilean government. Chile was the first South
American country to have forged diplomatic ties with China, Wu
noted.
In the statement, Wu also said that among the Latin American
countries Chile was the first to have offered support for China to
restore its legitimate seat at the United Nations, the first to
have recognized China's status of complete market economy and the
first to have signed a free trade agreement with China.
In recent years, bilateral relations between the two countries
have developed smoothly with ever-increasing friendly exchanges and
ever-expanding cooperation in politics, trade and economy, culture,
science and technology, Wu said.
The two countries have also supported each other and closely
coordinated each other in international affairs, he said, adding
that the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing
the comprehensive and cooperative partnership with Chile.
Wu, who flew here after winding up a two-day visit to Colombia,
also said he expected to exchange views with Chilean leaders on
issues of common concern. He said he is sure that his visit will be
success.
Chile is the last stop of Wu's ongoing three-nation Latin
American tour.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)
