Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan arrived Santiago Sunday for a three-day official visit to Chile to promote bilateral ties.

In a written speech distributed at the airport, Tang highly appreciated the development of relations between China and Chile since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1970.

The Chinese government treasured the thirty-year-long friendship with Chile and attached great importance to developing Sino-Chilean relations in all fields, the Chinese minister said.

The visit was aimed at "increasing dialogue, developing friendship, expanding the agreements (signed) and promoting cooperation with Latin American countries," he said.

During his stay in Chile, Tang will meet Chilean leaders and deliver a speech on "China's reform and opening up and friendly Sino-Latin American cooperation" at the Santiago-based Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Chile is the last leg of Tang's Latin American tour, which has taken him to Cuba, Mexico and Brazil.

(Xinhua, 09/25/2000)