Chile Week celebrates decades of partnership, future ties

摘要

Chile Week, the South American country's most important promotional event in China, was launched Thursday in Shenzhen, marking a triple anniversary for Chile-China relations and pivoting focus toward new opportunities in the digital economy and innovation sectors.

Officials unveil the Chile Week event during an opening ceremony held in Shenzhen yesterday. Photos courtesy of event organizer

The event, organized by the Chilean export authority ProChile and the Chilean Consulate General in Guangzhou, celebrates 55 years of diplomatic relations, the 20th anniversary of the China-Chile Free Trade Agreement, and a decade of the Chile Week initiative in China.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Chilean Ambassador to China Pablo Arriarán and ProChile General Director Ignacio Fernández.

Pablo Arriarán, Chilean Ambassador to China, addresses attendees at the Chile Week opening ceremony in Shenzhen yesterday.

In his opening address, Ambassador Arriarán highlighted the depth of the bilateral relationship. “Chile and China are not only strategic partners, but also friends who understand and support each other in the most challengin moments,” he said. Arriarán described Chile Week as “a celebration of friendship, mutual understanding, and commitment to building a shared future.”

The choice of Shenzhen, a core city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, underscores the event’s focus on innovation. The week’s agenda is designed to build on a trade relationship that has expanded significantly since the landmark free trade agreement, the first between China and a Latin American nation.

Ignacio Fernández, general director of ProChile, speaks during the opening ceremonyof Chile Week in Shenzhen.

“Chilean exports to China have more than doubled since 2015,” said Fernández, general director of ProChile. He noted that non-resource exports like cherries, salmon, and wines have seen particularly strong growth, nearly tripling in the last decade.

A key focus for Chile is now on exporting high-value services and technology. “Chilean services are breaking export records worldwide,” Fernández said. He pointed to Chilean innovations in areas like artificial intelligence for agriculture and mining technology as having major potential in the Chinese market.

Representatives from Chilean companies meet with Chinese importers during a business matchmaking session on the opening day of Chile Week in Shenzhen yesterday.

The opening day featured high-density business matchmaking sessions, with 26 Chilean companies meeting one-on-one with over 100 Chinese importers. Forums on agricultural food innovation and energy investment attracted industry leaders from Chinese giants like Huawei Digital Power, DJI, and Southern Power Grid.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and the Shenzhen International Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and the Shenzhen International Chamber of Commerce shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation on the opening day of Chile Week.

The event also aims to bring Chilean culture to the public. A “Made by Chile” market at Sea World on Friday will allow citizens to sample food and wine.

Also on Friday, the Chilean delegation is scheduled for site visits to the headquarters of top Chinese firms, including Tencent and China Resources, to deepen commercial ties and explore collaborative ventures in technology and sustainable development.