Trade between China and Chile reached new heights in the first four months of 2025, marking a significant milestone in 55 years of bilateral cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970.
China's total imports and exports with Chile reached 163.19 billion yuan (22.65 billion U.S. dollars) in the first four months, a 5.4 percent increase year on year, outpacing the growth rate of China's overall foreign trade by 3 percentage points and setting a new record for the same period, said the General Administration of Customs on Wednesday. Chile is the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, and the first in South America to implement a mutual recognition arrangement for Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs) with Chinese customs. Since the China-Chile FTA came into effect in 2006, bilateral trade has expanded rapidly, from 70.85 billion yuan in 2006 to 437.95 billion yuan in 2024, at an average annual growth rate of 11.2 percent.
Currently, Chile is China's third-largest trading partner in Latin America, while China remains Chile's top trading partner globally.
In recent years, a growing variety of Chilean agricultural products has entered the Chinese market, enriching the "fruit baskets and vegetable trays" of Chinese consumers. Notably, cherries have become a standout example. In the first four months of this year alone, China imported 17.54 billion yuan worth of cherries from Chile, accounting for 16.2% of the total value of China's imports from Chile during that period. Chile has maintained its position as China's largest supplier of imported cherries for over a decade.
Other Chilean specialty products also saw significant growth during the same period. Imports of frozen crab rose by 26.3 percent, sockeye salmon by 180.9 percent, and avocados by 68.1 percent.
China-Chile trade hits record high in first four months
Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), is denying that it is disbanding, after a Riyadh-based delegation of the group declared the dissolution of the council and all its political and military structures on Friday.
The council on Saturday issued a statement on social media, refuting reports of its dissolution, calling them "fabricated and invalid." This contradicts a claim made by its Secretary-General Abdulrahman Jalal al-Subaihi in a broadcast on Yemeni television on Friday.
The dissolution announcement follows the recent departure of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi from Yemen amid intensified political tensions in Aden. His departure came ahead of Saudi-hosted dialogue talks on the future of southern Yemen, and amid growing internal divisions within the council.
The delegation is in Saudi Arabia as part of talks on the southern political track, marking a pivotal moment for a movement that has dominated Aden's political and security landscape in recent years.
The conflicting statements reveal deep internal divisions within the UAE-backed STC, amid heightened regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia has accused the UAE of helping the group’s leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, escape the country, while the STC has accused Riyadh of detaining its members and forcing them to make false statements.
As tensions rise, local authorities have imposed a citywide curfew across Aden over the past two days.
Official in charge of the Community Committees at the Southern Transitional Council
"From a security standpoint, those who have taken control of affairs in the interim capital, Aden, and in several southern provinces are southern armed forces, namely the Giants Brigades and the Southern Homeland Shield. There is no fear for the southern people. As for the public, they will return to the streets to demand secession from the Yemeni state," said Wakkas Ahmed, an official in charge of the Community Committees at the STC.
That curfew has since been lifted, according to security officials, as forces continue to monitor developments and maintain a visible presence throughout the city. But the group is now calling for mass protests in southern Yemeni cities.
Southern Transitional Council denies its dissolution
