Chilean president: Shanghai Expo represents most important event in world

Special Report:
Expo 2010 Shanghai
China


SANTIAGO, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President
Michelle Bachelet has said that Shanghai World Expo 2010 will be the important
event in the world.

"Shanghai World Expo will be the most important event
in China as well as in the world in 2010 and it is of key significance for Chile
to participate in the expo," Bachelet told Xinhua recently.

The remarks were made after Bachelet attended the
launching ceremony of Chile's participation of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 last
Thursday.

"Chile has decided to participate in the expo and
design its own pavilion because we want to convey a clear message to the Chinese
government and the Chinese people that Chile is a reliable and capable partner
of China," she said.

Chile will continue to support China in promoting its
economic development and boosting its relations with Latin American countries as
the two countries share the common aspiration to promote the harmonious and
sustainable development of their economies and improve the living standards of
their peoples, the president added.

The president regarded Chile's participation in the
Shanghai Expo as a new opportunity for boosting bilateral economic and trade
ties.

She also said the event would strengthen Chile's
status as a platform for Chinese investment to enter Latin America.

The Chilean government decided to actively
participate in the event shortly after it received the invitation, she said.

The Chilean pavilion at the Expo, designed by a
Chilean company and constructed by a Chinese one, will shorten the gap between
the two peoples and facilitate the Chinese people's better understanding of
Chile, its product and its people's view on the world and future, said Bachelet.


The president said the friendship between the two
countries can be traced back to long time ago, noting that Chile expected its
best performance at the Shanghai Expo.

The Shanghai World Expo 2010, under the theme "Better
City, Better Life," is expected to build a powerful and lasting pilot example of
sustainable and harmonious urban living.