China, Chile should set example for South-South cooperation: Xi

China

China, Chile should set example for South-South cooperation: Xi

2025-05-14 14:28 Last Updated At：18:27

China and Chile should work together to build a model of shared development between China and Latin America and a fine example of South-South cooperation, said President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, while talking with visiting Chilean President Gabriel Boric.

Boric is in Beijing for the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

"Both China and Chile are firm defenders of multilateralism and free trade. At present, the international landscape is intertwined with turmoil, with rising tides of unilateralism and protectionism posing serious challenges to the global economic and trade order. Against this backdrop, to enhance cooperation between China and Chile is a more significant of exemplary effect. I'm willing to work with you to further deepen the two countries' cooperation in various fields, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and keep enriching the contemporary connotation of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, build a model of shared development between China and Latin America and a fine example of South-South cooperation, and jointly promote the cause of peace and progress for mankind," Xi said.

Boric expressed his commitment to cooperation with China and safeguarding multilateralism.

"Chile was the first Latin American countries to support China's accession to the World Trade Organization. China is one of the few countries that has signed a free trade agreement with Chile. Nowadays, China is a major trading partner of ours. We are here to show that we firmly safeguard multilateralism. The trade war is not our solution to current challenges and differences. We also support the cooperation under Belt and Road Initiative," Boric said.

International mayors gather in Harbin to explore ice and snow economy

The Global Mayors Dialogue opened in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday, bringing together mayors and senior city officials from across Europe, Asia, and North America to have in-depth exchanges on practical approaches to developing the ice and snow economy.

Held under the theme "Connecting the World with Ice and Snow, Win-Win Cooperation for a Shared Future", the three-day event gathered mayors, deputy mayors, and mayoral representatives from cities across the globe, including Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Türkiye, focusing on the ice and snow economy, cultural integration, smart city development, heritage preservation, and urban governance.

The event featured a main dialogue and a scenario-based dialogue salon to foster in-depth exchanges and spark new ideas. Guests are invited to visit iconic sites such as the Harbin Ice and Snow World and attend the opening ceremony and trade events of the Harbin Ice and Snow Economy Expo, which are showcasing Harbin's achievements in building an ice and snow economy brand, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and inheriting ice and snow culture.

Harbin, called China's "ice city", has turned its long, cold winters into a major tourist attraction. Last winter, it welcomed a record 90.36 million visitors, generating 137.22 billion yuan (about 19.44 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue, a year-on-year increase of 16.6 percent.