Huang Qiang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, pays a visit to Chilean President Gabriel Boric on April 19 in Santiago.
From April 18 to 19 local time, Huang Qiang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, led the province's delegation on a visit to Chile. Huang Qiang and the delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with Chilean political, business, and academic figures and conducted economic, trade and cultural promotional activities, aiming to expand and deepen practical cooperation between Sichuan and Chile.
During his visit to Chile, Huang Qiang called on Chilean President Gabriel Boric; met with Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto van Klaveren, Under–Secretary for International Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Claudia Sanhueza Riveros, General Director of ProChile Ignacio Fernández Ruiz, a representative of the President of the Biobío Region, which is Sichuan's sister province, Biobío's Minister of Regional Development Chávez, and other Chilean government officials; and met with Chinese Ambassador to Chile Niu Qingbao. Huang Qiang also met with heads from various Chilean business associations, prominent companies, and academic institutions, including the Federation of Chilean Industry (SOFOFA), the fruit association Frutas de Chile, Chilean national mining society Sociedad Nacional de Minería (Sonami), the renowned wine producer Concha y Toro, and the University of Chile, introducing the new Sichuan to them and fostering a consensus on collaborative efforts to explore new trade avenues and expand into new markets.
On the morning of April 19, Huang Qiang paid a visit to Chilean President Gabriel Boric in Santiago. He expressed sincere gratitude to President Boric for his significant emphasis on and robust support for the amicable and practical cooperation between Sichuan and Chile. Huang Qiang said that last year, His Excellency the President selected Sichuan as the initial destination of his visit to China, where a consensus was reached on deepening collaboration across various sectors between the two sides, and in particular, the President expressed the expectation to establish direct flights connecting the two locations. Currently, the route from Chengdu to Auckland has been successfully resumed. Airlines in Sichuan are in discussions with their Chilean counterparts regarding potential cooperation on the route from Auckland to Santiago. It is hoped that Your Excellency the President will support the prompt opening of the direct flight route between the two locations and jointly promote the early establishment of cargo flights, thereby easing personnel movement and economic and trade interactions; support the expansion of import and export trade volumes, enabling the people of both regions to access a greater variety of each other's high-quality products; support the consolidation and expansion of cooperation in clean energy and continue to care for the development of key Sichuan-backed projects in Chile; and support the deepening of cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, encouraging more young Chileans to pursue studies in Sichuan. Together, our efforts will jointly contribute to the ongoing progress of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Chile.
The China (Sichuan) - Chile Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion Conference took place in Santiago on April 19.
The China (Sichuan) - Chile Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion Conference was held in Santiago on the afternoon of April 19. The elements of the panda and the dove-tree flower, symbolizing peace and friendship, drew significant attention both within and outside the event venue. Huang Qiang said in his speech that although Chile, "the land where the earth ends," and Sichuan, "a land of abundance" in China, are at opposite ends of the Earth, the two locations share a deep friendship and proximity in mutual understanding. I look forward to this visit promoting Sichuan-Chile cooperation to a new level. Let us join hands to enlarge the economic and trade "pie," increase the direct import of Chile's advantageous products into Sichuan, and promote more Sichuan specialties, such as its baijiu liquor and tea, to be featured on the dining tables of the Chilean people. Let us join hands to explore the new "blue ocean" of industries, and we welcome businesses from both regions to expand investment cooperation in areas such as clean energy and modern agriculture, sharing development opportunities. Let us join hands to enhance cultural affinity among the peoples of the two places, using direct flights as a bridge to strengthen personnel exchanges and visits, and to foster a two-way rush in cultural and tourism interactions. Before the conference, Huang Qiang and guests from Chile jointly visited a photo exhibition displaying the conditions of Sichuan Province and an exhibition featuring intangible cultural heritage and creative products. During the conference, eight cooperation agreements were signed between the two sides, covering areas such as economy, trade, education, and science and technology. Sichuan Province launched the Sichuan Provincial Government Scholarship Program for the Biobío Region. On the same day, Huang Qiang also attended the "Wuliangye's world harmonic tour – Chile" event, which is designed to promote Sichuan baijiu and accelerate its pace of "going global," actively expanding its presence in the global market.
