Top legislator Wu Bangguo and Chile's Senate President Eduardo
Frei Ruiz-Tagle expressed on Wednesday their countries' willingness
and wishes to expand bilateral relations.
Frei said during meeting with Wu, chairman of the Standing
Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), that himself
and the Senate have expected Wu's visit.
Wu's visit to Chile was the first official visit to Chile by a
China's top legislator and was seen as historic, marking a new
stage in the relations between the two countries and their
legislatures, Frei said.
For his part, Wu, who arrived in Santiago on Tuesday for a
three-day visit to Chile, expressed his appreciation of Frei's
efforts for years in promoting Sino-Chile relationship.
The bilateral relations have enjoyed smooth development since
the two countries established diplomatic ties 36 years ago, Wu
said.
President Hu Jintao's successful visit to Chile in 2004opened a
new chapter in the relationship between the two countries and the
rapid development of pragmatic cooperation in such fields as
economy and trade has vigorously promoted economic development in
both countries and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, he
added.
He also said China attaches great importance to developing
relations with Chile and views the country as a good friend and
partner.
"The purpose of my visit is to strengthen parliamentary
exchanges, push forward bilateral economic and trade cooperation
and promote the all-round partnership of cooperation between China
and Chile," he said.
China's NPC is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level
exchanges with Chile's Senate, to enhance cooperation between
special panels of the two legislatures and strengthen consultation
and cooperation of the two legislative bodies in international and
regional parliamentary organizations, Wu said.
During the meeting, the two leaders stressed the political
dialogue mechanism established between the two countries'
legislative bodies in February is an important move in deepening
their exchanges, for it builds a new platform for such
exchanges.
The first session of the political dialogue committee was held
during Wu's visit.
Frei also said the Chile's Senate attaches great importance to
developing relations with China's NPC, saying Chile's political
parties have a common understanding in developing relations with
China.
Chile is willing to further expand exchanges and cooperation
with China to push the all-round partnership of cooperation to a
new high, Frei said.
Chile is the last leg of Wu's three-nation South America tour,
which had taken him to Brazil and Uruguay.
(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)
