Chilean President Boric will meet with Xi Jinping and lead a business meeting in China
Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
According to a report by the outlet Bio Bio Chile, the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, will hold a bilateral meeting with the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, as part of the China-CELAC Summit to be held on Tuesday, May 13, in the capital of the Asian country, Beijing.
Several other Latin American leaders will also attend the summit, including Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, and Lula da Silva, President of Brazil.
This will be the fourth summit between the People’s Republic of China and CELAC, and it will take place in an international context marked by trade tensions and a strong economic relationship between Latin American countries and China. The latter has become the main trading partner for several nations in the region, including Chile.
Regarding President Boric’s visit, as mentioned previously, it comes amid trade tensions between China and the United States, which began under the U.S. government when high tariffs were imposed on Chinese products and 10% duties were applied to exports from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Chile. In this context, the visit to China coincides with the Chilean president’s efforts to find solutions to the tariffs imposed by the United States.
Some Chilean products affected by these tariffs include fruit and salmon, which are fundamental to the country’s economic development and essential components of the export basket sent to the United States, Chile’s second most important trading partner. So far, copper, the country’s top export, has not been subject to these tariffs.
In addition, President Gabriel Boric will also take advantage of his visit to the People’s Republic of China to lead the “Chile-China Business Meeting 2025,” which aims to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. According to the Chilean presidency, this relationship “has been fundamental for Chile’s growth and international projection.”
This meeting will be led by President Boric, who will be accompanied by a ministerial and business delegation composed of prominent figures, including representatives from key sectors for national development, such as the National Agriculture Society (SNA) and the Federation of Chilean Industry (SOFOFA).
Before arriving in China, the president will make a state visit to Japan, where he will meet with Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of that country. He will also attend the “World Expo 2025,” to be held in Osaka.
This will be President Boric’s first official visit to Japan, which currently ranks as Chile’s fourth most important trading partner. As for China, this will be his second visit since taking office, the first having taken place in October 2023.
Last but not least, the Chilean presidency stated that this tour of Asia, specifically to the People’s Republic of China and Japan, is part of a state policy promoted by Gabriel Boric, aimed at diversifying and strengthening Chile’s commercial and economic ties.
Main Source:
Boric alista nuevo viaje a China en medio de guerra comercial: dialogará con Xi y participará de Celac – BioBio Chile
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