On December 4, 2024, President Yang Wanming met with Alberto van Klaveren Stork, Chile's Foreign Affairs Minister, and his delegation at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).
President Yang remarked that China and Chile are trusted friends and strong partners in win-win cooperation. He noted that Chile has always been a pioneer among Latin American countries in fostering relations with China, achieving many significant milestones. The frequent interaction between the two heads of state has have paved the way for new and further development of the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership. Yang highlighted that the peoples of China and Chile share a long history of friendship, with the Chile-China Cultural Association being the first organization for friendship with China in Latin America. This mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples have laid a solid foundation of public support for the sustained growth of bilateral relations. Noting that the following year will mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Yang expressed the CPAFFC's readiness to seize this opportunity with Chile in advancing the consensus reached by both heads of state. He emphasized the need to deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, scientific and technological innovation, and other sectors, as well as between subnational entities and young people, and constantly expand the dimensions of the high-level bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Alberto van Klaveren Stork stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970, Chile and China have seen their bilateral relations develop at a high level, with fruitful cooperation in political, economic, cultural, and other fields. He noted that next year will not only mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations but also the 20th anniversary of the Chile-China Free Trade Agreement and the 10th anniversary of Chile Week China—all significant milestones worth celebrating. Over the years, the CPAFFC has played a vital role in enhancing understanding and friendship between the peoples of both nations, earning widespread recognition. Chile, he said, will continue to work closely with the CPAFFC to advance traditional friendships and expand people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation, particularly at the subnational level.
Vice President Shen Xin, Director-General Sun Tao of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of the CPAFFC, Deputy Director-General Qu Yuhui of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Chilean Ambassador to China Mauricio Hurtado attended the meeting.
