Chile, China to jointly promote free trade

Chile is willing to jointly promote free trade with China under the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, given China's role in promoting economic globalization and trade liberalization, senior Chilean officials said.

Free trade will also be Chile's focus when the Andean country hosts the APEC meeting in 2019, they added.

"It has been the philosophy of Chile to oppose protectionism and support multilateralism, and we have signed free trade agreements with many countries," said Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Chile's former president and now ambassador plenipotentiary of Chile to the Asia-Pacific.

Luis Schmidt, Chilean ambassador to China, said that Chile and China have reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and free trade principles in a year that has been difficult for international organizations and world trade because of protectionist and anti-globalist voices.

"We really appreciate that in these difficult times for global governance, such an important country as China has assumed the defense of free trade and multilateralism, and has been playing a leading role in the fight against climate change," he said, noting that China can always count on Chile as a partner in all these areas.

Schmidt said Chile wants to take the opportunity as host of next year's APEC meeting to send a strong message in favor of international trade.

"We want to foster regional trade agreements and take important steps for the realization of the free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said Chile believes that international economic relations should never forget that the main reason to engage in international trade is people, who live and work hard and want to benefit from the relations.

"The only way to improve quality of life for people and bring more development for the country is free trade, and APEC is such an organization that promotes free trade," Ampuero said.

He said the APEC meeting next year will be the most important international event during the presidency of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

"We are preparing for it and it is a huge challenge," he said, adding that China has agreed to support Chile in terms of organizing the event.

Digital economy and services, regional connectivity, and women and economic growth are the three topics to be addressed as priorities during the APEC meeting in Chile.