A banquet was given in Beijing Wednesday to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Chile.

 

Li Xiaolin, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said China and Chile enjoy a prolonged history of friendship despite their distance.

 

Since the forging of their diplomatic ties 35 years ago, Li said, the two countries have witnessed a frequent exchange of high-level visits and friendly cooperation has been strengthened in the spheres of economy, trade, science and technology and culture.

 

"It is believed that bilateral friendly cooperation will yield more fruits with joint efforts of both sides," Li said.

 

Chilean ambassador to China Pablo Cabrera said the rewording Chile-China cooperation between has further spurred the exchanges and mutual understanding of the people of the two countries.

 

"Chile will go on making efforts to advance bilateral relations so as to contribute to the world peace and development," the ambassador said.

 

Xu Jialu, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, and Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi were, among others, present on the occasion.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2006)