BOND BETWEEN ENTREPRENEURS: Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (center) meets with Chinese and Chilean chairmen of the China-Chile Entrepreneur Committee before the fifth annual conference of the committee in Santiago, Chile on June 10 (JU PENG)

Also, concerning economic development, we need to expand investment in energy, especially in electricity generation and transmission capacity. We also welcome investment in infrastructure, such as ports and airports.

As a stable country with an open economy and foreign-friendly environment, Chile's doors are open to Chinese investors. From Chile, they can reach out to our neighboring countries. Many Latin American countries are starting to grow, providing even more opportunities for China to expand and invest.

As you mentioned, many Latin American countries are starting to grow. China is also an emerging economy. What are your ideas on economic cooperation between China and Latin America?

Chile already has a strong relationship with China. China is Chile's biggest trading partner. And 45 percent of Chile's exports now go to Asia. Of them, 25 percent come to China and the other 20 percent to the rest of Asia.

Currently, much of the world's economic growth comes from Asia. And Latin America is also starting to grow. The connection between the people of these two continents is going to get stronger.

The prospect for the cooperation between China and the Latin American region is very good. People from the two sides get to know each other. And their cooperation is growing very fast.

Trade is growing quickly between the two sides. The next step will be for Chinese companies to invest in Latin America, and Latin American companies to invest in China. Chile is growing and probably will become the first country to reach the level of a developed nation in Latin America.

My visit this time has two main purposes. One is to explore ways of expanding bilateral investment between Chile and China. We have been gathering information, talking to government officials and meeting companies to see how to go about that. The other is to look for ways to diversify our relationship through scientific and technological cooperation.

How many tourists travel between China and Chile each year? What cooperative programs in tourism have the two countries carried out?

The number of Chinese tourists traveling to Chile is quite small. There are only about 7,000 Chinese tourists each year. The two countries are too far away and flights are limited.

Chinese tourists can have a very fascinating experience in Chile. We have a good natural environment, abundant wildlife and different kinds of cuisines. And they can also go to Argentina and Brazil through Chile.

China-Chile Economic and Trade Relationship

In 2010, trade volume between China and Chile reached $25.8 billion, up 44.8 percent compared to the previous year. China's export to Chile reached $8.03 billion and import from Chile reached $17.8 billion, up by 62.9 percent and 37.9 percent, respectively.

By the end of 2010, Chile's investment in China was $70 million and China's investment in Chile was $440 million.

Currently, China is Chile's largest trading partner, largest export destination and second largest source of import. And Chile is China's second largest trading partner in Latin America.