Xi thanks Chile's leader for her nation's support

China and Chile should push forward major projects in such areas as infrastructure construction,regional interconnectivity,clean energy and telecommunications as the two countries work to build the Belt and Road, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who is on a state visit to China.Bachelet will also attend the twoday Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation starting on Sunday.

The two countries signed cooperative documents to boost collaboration in areas including trade,tourism, agriculture andAntarctic research, with the two presidents aswitnesses.

Xi expressed gratitude for Chile's support for the initiative and the country's active participation in building the Belt andRoad.Chile is in an important geographical position to do so since it is a door toLatinAmerica for theAsiaPacific region, Xi said.

China is willing to enhance coordination with Chile under the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation framework and jointly push the building of a free trade zone in the AsiaPacific region, he said.

Bachelet said that although Chile is far from China, the two countries have many common interests.

Chile would like todeepencooperation with China in such areas as politics, economy, investment,agriculture, energy and minerals,finance, environment,culture,tourism, ecommerce,telecommunications,infrastructure and Antarctic research, she said.

ZhuQingqiao,directorof theLatin America Department of the Foreign Ministry, said the two presidents have reached an importantconsensusondevelopingaChinaChile comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two presidents have now made reciprocal state visitswithin half a year of each other, following Xi's trip toChile inNovember, providing an indication of their highlevel relationship, he said.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn