Chinese President Hu Jintao held official talks with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria in Sanya on Sunday, with the two leaders agreeing to promote bilateral all-round cooperative partnership to new heights.

In their talks in Sanya City, Hu spoke highly of the development of bilateral ties over the years. He added that cementing the Sino-Chilean relations meets the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and helps deepen the mutual benefit and cooperation between Asia and Latin America.

China has always been considering and handling the Sino-Chilean relations from a strategic height, Hu said, calling on both countries to strengthen political trust and enhance consultation.

He hoped the two countries would take the opportunity of signing a supplementary agreement of China-Chilean Free Trade Agreement on service trade, to open wider the service market.

China was willing to offer convenience for the cooperation between the two countries' enterprises, Hu said, adding his country supported both nations' quality-quarantine departments to enhance cooperation and set up a long-term cooperation mechanism.

He called on both sides to step up cultural, educational and technological cooperation and people-to-people exchanges in diversified areas, cementing cooperation in multilateral organizations and on major international issues such as UN reform and Doha Round negotiations.

Applauding Hu's proposals, Bachelet said Chile had always been committed to developing relations with China since the establishment of diplomatic ties 38 years ago. Chile was the first among Latin American countries to cooperate with China in many areas, and was confident about future bilateral ties.

Chile hoped to cooperate with China to deepen exchanges and cooperation in politics, trade, investment, agriculture, Antarctic scientific exploration, education and culture, and enhance coordination on international issues such as climate change, she said.

Bachelet added her country was ready to play a positive role in promoting China's relations with Latin American countries.

She also appreciated China's great achievement in its reform and opening-up in the past 30 years, and extended best wishes for a complete success of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

Hu expressed appreciation for Chile's adherence to the one-China policy and its precious support for China on Taiwan and Tibet issues.

After their talks, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony of eight cooperative agreements between the two countries.

Bachelet arrived in Sanya on Friday to start her first state visit to China as guest of Hu. She attended the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), which opened on Saturday afternoon in Boao, Hainan Province.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2008)