Chile looks forward to cooperating with China for more investment and continues to strengthen ties, said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

She emphasized the opportunities for investing in energy and infrastructure while talking about further cooperation between the two countries in an interview with China Daily on Wednesday, the day after the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing ended.

"We are interested in developing more sources of energy, particularly renewable ones. We know, for example, that China has a lot of experience in solar energy and other renewable energy. Chile has great potential in this area," Bachelet said.

She said it was established during the APEC meeting on Tuesday that China and Chile are willing to expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, mining, finance and infrastructure construction, as well as in humanities and science and technology.

"We also have a lot of potential for infrastructure as part of the recovery of the economy, but also because we want to improve our facilities," Bachelet said.

China Construction Bank established its Latin American regional headquarters in the Chilean capital, Santiago, in March, and that should encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Chile, she said.

Bachelet also credited the 2006 Free Trade Agreement between Chile and China, for leading to the current improved and safer environment in Chile for Chinese investors.

"We will continue to do our best by bringing more

Chilean companies to China and supporting the Chilean companies in China," Bachelet said.

Chile's plan to export more seafood, wine and other fish and agricultural products should attract more attention from potential Chinese investors, she said.

During the APEC meeting on Monday, a Chilean investment panel held a discussion and gave a presentation for about 150 Chinese entrepreneurs.

Bachelet said Chile welcomes all investors, big or small.

"Ten years ago when I visited China for the first time, there were only 15 Chilean companies in Shanghai," she said. "Now we can see a strong presence of Chilean companies and their products. We welcome all entrepreneurs interested in investing in Chile and China, the inclusiveness of which adds value to the entire supply chain."

While in Beijing, Bachelet visited Huawai Co, which offers technology support services in Chile.

During APEC, Bachelet said, "We congratulated President Xi Jinping at the meeting" for hosting the event and for "his inspiring leadership in the region".

She described the meeting's talks on inclusive economic growth and regional integration as fruitful.

"More important, it was about what we can implement with concrete steps, and when we go back home, we will think about taking practical steps," she said.

zhangyuchen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 11/13/2014 page5)