China is willing to work with Chile to continue the traditional friendship between the two countries and enrich the connotation of the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay a state visit to China.

Xi said Chile is a pioneer in the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Latin America. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than half a century ago, China-Chile ties have maintained stable and sound development.

The bilateral cooperation in various fields has promoted the development and revitalization of the two countries and delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

The two countries should take the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan as an opportunity to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies, he said.

Xi said China and Chile should deepen traditional cooperation in economy, trade and infrastructure, and foster new drivers of growth for cooperation on clean energy, digital economy, and scientific and technological innovation, to make Chile a leading country in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Latin America.

China welcomes more high-quality agricultural products and specialties from Chile to enter the Chinese market, he said.

Xi said that both China and Chile belong to the Global South. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Chile to uphold solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, and safeguard true multilateralism and free trade.

China appreciates Chile's positive contributions to the development of China-Latin America relations and the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, and hopes Chile will continue to play its unique role in promoting China's cooperation with Latin America, he said.

Boric said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by President Xi draws wisdom from Chinese traditional culture that has a history of more than 5,000 years, and is based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. It has become an important platform for mutually beneficial cooperation and an important opportunity for countries around the world to achieve common development. Chile highly values and will continue to actively participate in the cooperation.

Chile supports China's efforts to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, Boric said, adding that Chile hopes to become the hub of cooperation between China and Latin American countries and play an active role in promoting the development of the Latin America-China relations.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in fields such as Belt and Road cooperation, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, customs inspection and quarantine.

A joint statement between the two countries was issued after the talks.

Chile appreciates China's development achievements over the past decade, the statement said, adding that China supports the Chilean government's efforts to achieve inclusive economic and social development and improve people's living standards.

Both sides agreed to further maintain close strategic communication, strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and maintain close people-to-people and cultural exchanges, as well as mutual learning to strengthen the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two countries reaffirmed the principles of maintaining peace and security, peaceful resolution of disputes, non-interference in internal affairs of other countries, safeguarding multilateralism and promoting free trade.

Chile appreciates and affirms the contributions of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative and the concept of building a global community of shared future to the realization of world peace and development, said the statement.

The two sides reiterated their willingness to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, mining, energy, education, culture, tourism, agriculture and fishery and infrastructure, and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as digital economy, green sustainable development, technological innovation, new energy and artificial intelligence.

(With input from Xinhua)