Chile Week China 2025 enhances bilateral ties

The recent Chile Week China 2025 has yielded fruitful results in strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Chile and China.

This year's event celebrated the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 20th anniversary of the free-trade agreement between the two nations.

During the event, several agreements were signed to foster bilateral cooperation. In Tianjin, Chile signed memorandums of understanding with several institutions, while a strategic trade agreement was established between the nonprofit Frutas de Chile organization and Chongqing Shuangfu Agricultural Products Wholesale Market in Chongqing.

In Shenzhen, Guangdong province, two rounds of intensive business matchmaking sessions took place, and Chilean companies engaged in one-on-one business meetings with over 100 Chinese importers. In Shanghai, PrizeKing, one of the sponsors of the Shanghai event and a model of Sino-Chilean business cooperation, launched a new blueberry product.

Chile Week serves as both a testament to the enduring friendship between China and Chile and a platform for multifaceted collaboration. According to Ignacio Fernandez, director of ProChile — a trade promotion organization at Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Chile has become a major supplier of cherries and mussels to China, while also introducing new food products like pears, walnuts and mackerel.

Chile's service exports to China, primarily in transportation and information technology, continue to grow, supported by Chile's global reputation for reliable supply in agriculture, aquaculture and mining.

"We attach great importance to the market in Southwest China, as it is a vibrant region full of new opportunities," said Pablo Arriaran Ahumada, ambassador of Chile to China, during the Chongqing event. He expressed hope that Chilean agricultural products, food items and industrial goods could reach the entire Southwest China region via Chongqing.

This year also marked Chongqing's first Chile Week as well as Chile's expansion into China's inland markets. During the Chongqing signing, a regular bilateral communication mechanism was also established to facilitate the exchange of information on fruit production, market conditions, consumer trends, trade policies and regulatory changes. Both parties are committed to collaborating in raising awareness and recognition of Chilean fruits among Chinese consumers and buyers.

Chilean products such as cherries, salmon and wine have become staples on local tables. In the other direction, Chongqing's electronic information equipment and components, new energy vehicles and parts, motorcycles and agricultural machinery are increasingly entering the Chilean market.

"Chile is one of Chongqing's major trade partners in Latin America," said Zhou Yi, deputy director of the Chongqing foreign affairs office. From January to August this year, the total import and export volume between Chongqing and Chile reached 2.4 billion yuan ($337.20 million), marking a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase.

Zhou added that as Chongqing aims to become an international consumption center, it welcomes the entry of more high-quality Chilean products into the Chongqing market, with the goal of expanding their influence throughout the southwestern region. Additionally, the government will support enterprises from both sides in enhancing cooperation in the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce, with the aim of optimizing trade structures and nurturing new economic growth opportunities.

Chile Week is the largest and highest-level series of promotional activities held in China by a Latin American country. Over the past decade, it has witnessed a threefold increase in Chile's non-copper and lithium product exports to China, reaching $8 billion, with 88 percent of these exports facilitated by ProChile partners. Food exports have also tripled to $4.2 billion in 2024, and service exports have surged 12-fold to over $51 million. ProChile has organized more than 2,000 events in China, engaging over 3,500 Chilean companies, underscoring the robust growth of China-Chile trade relations, the organizers said.

Liang Jue contributed to this story.