Premier Li Keqiang and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet addressed an economic forum in Santiago, Chile, on May 26 to mark the 45th anniversary of China-Chile diplomatic relations and the decade since the bilateral free trade agreement came into effect.

Li said China and Chile — the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1970 — should seize the opportunity of infrastructure construction to deepen capacity collaboration and push forward cooperation in equipment manufacturing to contribute to the recovery of the global economy.

Li said China is dedicated to maintaining the current world economic and trade order and actively participating in relevant reforms to improve the multilateral trade system and push forward the liberalization and facilitation of bilateral regional trade. He stressed that China and Chile should firmly support free trade and oppose protectionism.

The Premier said China is willing to expand trade with Chile and upgrade the China-Chile free trade area. He added that China is willing to participate in Chilean infrastructure construction through various ways, and strengthen financial cooperation as China will set up the first Latin American renminbi offshore center in Santiago.

He said China is willing to share its experience of governance and cooperate with Chile in dealing with natural disasters and protecting the environment.

The Premier expressed his hope to see entrepreneurs of both nations seize the chance to contribute to economic cooperation between China and Chile.

Bachelet said Chile is willing to upgrade the bilateral free trade agreement with China and deepen the two nations’ infrastructure and energy cooperation. She added that Chile will push forward the internationalization of the renminbi in Latin America.