President Piñera talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on plan to combat and contain the coronavirus and strengthening relations between Chile and China
President Sebastián Piñera today held a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which they analyzed the global situation caused by the coronavirus epidemic and the actions deployed by both countries to contain the disease.
President Piñera stated that this is one of the most serious health crises we have faced in recent times and that China has the full support and collaboration of Chile.
The government of China has addressed this situation with will and determination, taking extraordinary measures to contain this epidemic through open and responsible prevention and control measures.
President Xi Jinping said that China is focusing its efforts on the prevention, control, and isolation of the population at risk, early treatment, and research into vaccines to protect against the coronavirus.
Chile’s Health Ministry has deployed precautionary measures to prevent the disease from entering the country and to protect the population. So far Chile has not yet registered any cases of coronavirus. However, more than 400 people are under observation and, of these, more than 20 cases have already been discarded.
Both presidents agreed on the importance of addressing this public health crisis with the full cooperation of the international community and in coordination with the World Health Organization, to control the propagation of this disease to other more vulnerable countries.
President Piñera emphasized the importance of continuing to work closely and collaboratively to safeguard global public health. President Xi Jinping thanked President Piñera for his offer to send Chilean medical specialists to collaborate and learn from the experience and measures adopted by China to deal with this epidemic. President Xi Jinping also stated his support for President Piñera in regard to the situation Chile is undergoing.
This year Chile and China are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations and the presidents agreed to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen the ties between the two nations, to make headway with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and to boost economic, political and cultural relations. China is Chile’s foremost trading partner. The two countries share principles and values, such as multilateralism, free trade, the importance of fighting climate change and addressing the ageing population.