Chile's Foreign Minister is also in Shanghai for the expo, just days after the country became the latest to sign on to the Belt and Road Initiative. The minister said the Chilean government is looking to have a very close relationship with China.

ROBERTO AMPUERO CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER "This is a very important step, another step in the relations of both countries. The initiative opens for both countries a new frame of cooperation. And we are looking forward to improving these relations, especially working on infrastructure. But we consider the relations between China and Chile not only as commercial for trade relations, we are working with China together in having integral relations, also in terms of culture, and tourism, and science and technology. All this, I think, will be made easier thanks to the framework of the initiative of the Belt and Road."

The two countries are marking nearly half a century of relations. China has long been Chile's top trading partner. The Chilean Foreign Minister visited Beijing back in September, and met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Chilean capital Santiago will host next year's summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC.