On November 27, jointly organized by CCPIT, Prochile, Chamber of Chile-China Commerce and Industry and Banco de Chile, the 1st China-Latin America Business Summit was solemnly opened in Santiago, capital city of Chile. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Vice Chairman Li Meng of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, CCPIT Chairman Wan Jifei, Chinese Ambassador to Chile Liu Yuqin and CCPIT Vice Chairman Yu Ping attended the opening ceremony.

President Bachelet and Vice Chairman Li Meng delivered a speech respectively on behalf the Chilean government and the Chinese government. President Bachelet pointed out in her speech that Chile and China possess great potential in agriculture, industry and trade. The experience that Chile and China have accumulated in developing economic and trade relations can be used by other Latin American states for reference when they carry out economic cooperation with China. Chile hopes to share the experience with other Latin American states and their enterprises through all kinds of communication platforms to together shape a bright future for Latin America-China economic and trade cooperation. In his speech, Vice Chairman Li Meng reviewed the history of China-Latin America economic and trade relations, introducing the advantages and potential for economic and trade cooperation between China and Latin American states. He spoke highly of the commercial communities that have helped enterprises of China and Latin American states carry out cooperation through holding various trade and investment promotion activities. He then put forward his four suggestions for expanding and developing China-Latin America economic and trade cooperation. CCPIT Chairman Wan Jifei also made a speech at the opening ceremony. He first expressed his appreciation to all the attending states, especially the Chilean government, for their vigorous efforts which make the summit a complete success. He sincerely hopes that the summit will provide an effective platform for the Chinese entrepreneurs and the Chilean entrepreneurs to carry out cooperation and the summit will perform as a long-term mechanism that enhances communication between enterprises on both sides.

The Chinese delegation consisted of nearly 200 members and was headed by CCPIT Chairman Wan Jifei. The Chinese delegation, along with nearly 300 representatives from 16 Latin American states, attended the opening ceremony. After the opening ceremony, six introduction conferences of China-Latin America investment environment and four industry seminars were organized. On the morning of November 28, entrepreneurs from China and Latin American states negotiated on approximately one thousand specific projects.