Chilean President Gabriel Boric was one of three Ibero-American heads of state to attend the May 12-13 China-CELAC Forum in Beijing—Brazil and Colombia were the other two—and he met this morning for what was a very positive meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, during which they signed a number of agreements. Chile has a longstanding and very important relationship with China, which is its main trading partner. About 40% of Chile’s exports go to China. In his comments to Xi today, Boric said, “my being here is a demonstration of the conviction to multilateralism and that trade wars aren’t the way to deal with our problems or differences,” La Nación reported him saying.
“We are part of the Belt and Road Initiative and are part of global value chains that we know are appreciated in China.” This is the fourth time that Boric has met with Xi Jinping since he took office in March 2022, the last time at the November 2024 APEC meeting in Lima, Peru.
In remarks yesterday, reported La Política Online, Boric proclaimed, “this is the moment to take a qualitative leap in our economic ties with China,” and asserted that Chile has the right to decide in a sovereign matter “with whom and when to trade. Trade is the coming together of nations and we want to meet with all nations and not have to choose one or the other by imposition.” Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who has a close working relationship with Boric, has encouraged the Chilean not to get caught up in “choosing sides” in global rivalries, and to also consider the advantages of membership in the BRICS.
Xi is certainly aware that the Trump administration is pressuring Chile to cut back its ties with China and his embassy in Santiago has responded forcefully to recent U.S. attempts to force the Chilean government to shut down the Ventarrones Astronomical Center in the Atacama Desert which China is building together with the Chile’s Catholic University of the North. The claim is that China will use the center for military operations in space.
In their meeting today, Xi told Boric that his remarks yesterday “fully reflect the importance you give to relations between China and Chile, and I want to express my appreciation for this. China and Chile are firm defenders of multilateralism and of free trade.” In the international context, he explained, “strengthening cooperation between the two countries will have an even greater demonstrative effect. We’re willing to work with you to further deepen our cooperation in all areas between our two countries.” That will mean “strengthening multilateral cooperation, continuing to enrich our comprehensive strategic relationship, and jointly promoting world peace and progress.”
It’s an honor to participate in the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, Boric said, “a space which renews the dialogue between the political community of Latin American and Caribbean nations and the People’s Republic of China. The path of cooperation forged with China is a great opportunity to advance from the standpoint of equality, mutual benefit and shared development.”
