The year 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Chile and witnessed further growth of the comprehensive and cooperative partnership as well as fruitful exchanges and cooperation across the board.
The two countries had close high-level exchanges. In December, Liu Yandong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor, paid an official visit to Chile, during which she met with President Sebastián Piñera Echenique and attended the signing ceremony of two cooperation documents on science and technology and education. In March, Yin Weimin, Special Envoy of the Chinese government and Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, attended the inauguration ceremony of President Piñera. In November, President Piñera paid a state visit to China. He had talks with President Hu Jintao and meetings with NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiaobao respectively. The two heads of state attended the signing ceremony of three cooperation documents on finance and quality inspection.
In the wake of the massive earthquake in Chile on 27 February, President Hu Jintao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi sent messages of condolences to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariano Fernández.
In December, President Hu and Foreign Minister Yang exchanged congratulatory messages with President Piñera and Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfredo Moreno to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Chile.
The two countries engaged in close legislature-to-legislature, party-to-party and military-to-military exchanges and cooperation. In January, the fifth meeting of the political committee between China's NPC and the Chilean Parliament was held in Chile. In August, General Li Jinai, Member of the Central Military Commission and Director General of the PLA General Political Department headed a delegation to Chile. In November, Wang Qinfeng, Deputy Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, visited Chile.
China-Chile business cooperation was deepened. China was Chile's largest trading partner and copper buyer. Chile was China's second largest trading partner in Latin America. In August, the Supplementary Agreement on Trade in Services of the Free Trade Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Chile came into force .
The two countries conducted a rich variety of people-to-people and cultural exchanges. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Chile, the two sides held a series of events including photo exhibitions, seminars and performace tours. In November, the Eighth Meeting of the China-Chile Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation was convened in Beijing, during which the 2010-2012 action plan for science and technology cooperation was signed. Chile actively participated in the Shanghai World Expo. In April, former Chilean President Bachelet and Minister of Foreign Affairs Moreno came to China for the opening ceremony of the expo. The Chile Pavilion received over three million visitors during the expo.(Last Update: 2011/08/22)