China and Chile Pledge Deeper Supply Chain and APEC Cooperation in Beijing

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Chilean Foreign Minister Pérez in Beijing on August 19, marking the tenth anniversary of the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership. Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral coordination with Chile's new government, strengthen industrial supply chain alignment, and advance cooperation under the multilateral Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) framework, particularly toward an Asia-Pacific free trade area.

The talks underscore Beijing's diplomatic engagement with Chile's incoming administration, reinforcing critical supply chain partnerships in South America and securing bilateral alignment ahead of China's hosting of APEC.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Chilean Foreign Minister Pérez in Beijing on August 19, signaling a shared commitment to deepen bilateral relations and multilateral coordination across the Pacific, according to state media reports. During the meeting, Wang noted that 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang expressed China's willingness to work alongside Chile's new government to elevate bilateral ties to a new level. He emphasized expanding cooperation around the upcoming APEC "China Year," with an emphasis on accelerating the construction of an Asia-Pacific community and advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Wang also highlighted the need for both nations to align their respective development strategies and enhance strategic communication to build a community with a shared future for mankind. In response, Foreign Minister Pérez affirmed that Chile's new government firmly adheres to the one-China principle. Pérez stated that Santiago seeks to maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties, deepen industrial and supply chain alignment, and expand bilateral practical cooperation. Pérez also expressed best wishes for the success of China's upcoming APEC host year. The bilateral dialogue highlights steady continuity in Beijing's diplomatic engagement with Latin American partners. Chile has historically been a trailblazer in South American diplomacy with Beijing, having been the first South American nation to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and among the earliest to sign a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement. The focus on industrial supply chains reflects mutual interests in trade diversification, critical minerals, and regional trade integration under Pacific-facing multilateral frameworks.