China and Chile have agreed to deepen their diplomatic ties further as both countries signed several bilateral agreements during Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to the Latin American country on Tuesday.   

The brief visit is latest effort by China to improve its ties with Latin American countries as it seeks to capitalize the region's abundant natural resources and enhance its influence in the predominately US-dominated region.

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Xi was welcomed by Chile's President Michelle Bachelet in La Moneda Palace, the headquarters of the Chilean government. In the hour-long meeting that ensued in the palace, both leaders signed 12 agreements to deepen bilateral cooperation in host of important areas.

Among these, the most important agreement was the memorandum of understanding to upgrade the current Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to the new level of Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

The trade between Beijing and Santiago has grown fourfold since the signing of FTA. As a result, China is now Chile's largest trading partner. Today, Santiago's annual export to the communist giant stands in billions of dollars, predominately exporting items such as cherries, blueberries, apples, grapes, and a variety of seafood.

The high quality Chinese cars, on other hand, have made substantial dent in the domestic auto market of the Latin American country.

Xi had visited the South American nation twice as vice president. But this was his first visit to the country as a president.  

"We have decided to elevate the bilateral ties and open a new chapter in China-Chile relations. We agreed to further deepen our bilateral economic cooperation and political coordination," Xi said in a statement. 

TagsChina and Chile, Chile, china, Xi Visits Chile