Minister Undurraga highlights key role of agriculture and forestry sector at sixth edition of Chile Week China
During the launch of the event, the agriculture minister recognized each link in the chain that allows healthy, safe and highly-nutritious food from Chile to reach the tables of Chinese families.
The sixth edition of Chile Week China was launched with a simultaneous and virtually-connected opening ceremony held in Santiago and Beijing. The event will run from November 25 to December 3 and activities will take place in both cities.
The ceremony was led by Jorge O’Ryan, General Director of ProChile, who have organized the event. It also featured the participation of Chile’s Agriculture Minister, María Emilia Undurraga; former President and Ambassador of Chile’s Special Mission to Asia, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle; China’s Ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao; Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolina Valdivia; International Economic Relations Undersecretary, Rodrigo Yáñez; National Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) National Director, Horacio Bórquez; Office of Agrarian Studies and Policies (ODEPA) National Director, María José Irrarázaval; the President of the National Agriculture Society, Cristián Allendes; and representatives of export associations and businesses.
ProChile General Director Jorge O’Ryan stated, “2020 was a difficult year for the whole world, and we were unable to hold Chile Week. But it’s time to return. It’s time to reconnect with our trade partners through high-impact activities, always keeping in mind that the pandemic is ongoing and that there are still restrictions on international travel.” He added, “our exporters have told us that Chile Week China is a necessity, and ProChile has listened. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of public and private entities, as well as new technologies and ways of doing business, it’s been possible to hold this event and confirm increases in both exports and jobs.”
The agriculture and forestry sector is playing a key role in those increases. Total exports for the sector reached US$4 billion through October 2021, 27% of all sector shipments.
“The relationship with China is one of long-term friendship that has involved a rapport, cooperation, knowledge and trade. Today, we are strengthening this path, this friendship, so that we can continue to sell our products and, in the case of the agriculture and forestry sector, the food produced in every region of the country, which will reach Chinese tables (…) We want to continue on this path of friendship, cooperation and exchange of products with China,” Agriculture Minister María Emilia Undurraga stated.
Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Carolina Valdivia noted, “Chile and China maintain a long-term, integral and stable connection. Over nearly 51 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries have built a fluid political dialogue on bilateral and multilateral issues, along with broad economic-trade exchange that incorporates new areas each day.”
International Economic Relations Undersecretary Rodrigo Yáñez assured that “current trade agreements and historic ties make China a strategic partner for Chile. It’s our top trade partner and Chile is China’s third most important trade partner in Latin America. We hope that our 51 years of bilateral relations and 15 years of FTA mark the beginning of a new stage in our trade relationship, allowing our country to participate in more value chains and offer services in the Chinese economy.”
In China
The opening ceremony in Beijing was attended by China’s Vice Minister of Trade, Wang Shouwen; Ambassador Qui Xiaoqi; the special representative of the Chinese Government for Latin American affairs; Chile’s Ambassador in Beijing, Luis Schmidt; ProChile Beijing Commercial Director, Natalia Cortés; Chilean companies in China; and strategic partners and importers.
The sixth edition of Chile Week China will be held as a hybrid event for the first time. It will include both in-person and virtual activities, in order to provide space for individuals in both countries and ensure everyone’s health, given the current global situation.
It will also connect Chilean companies in the market with importers and distributors, and it will have a strong focus on continuing to promote Chilean products among final consumers via digital platforms, such as social media and eCommerce channels.
The event will include business meetings, marketing launches and campaigns, seminars, workshops, eCommerce promotions, a wine masterclass, a cooking show and more.
Chile-China by numbers
China is Chile’s main trading partner and the top destination for its total exports. Over the past ten years, Chilean shipments to the Asian giant have increased by 182%.
In 2020, Chile’s non-copper shipments to the Chinese market totaled US$6.9 billion, up 22% over the previous year. This was the market with the highest growth for our non-copper shipments during that period. The subsectors that experienced the highest growth were iron (US$1.35 billion), up US$784 million over the previous year, followed by molybdenum (US$359 million) and pork (US$578 million), up 122.8%.
Cherries, the main product sent to the Chinese market, saw a 19.1% growth in shipments, totaling US$1.13 billion in 2020.
Exports of non-copper goods and services to China totaled US$6.935 billion between January and October, up 27% over the same period of the previous year.