In 2020, Chile and China will celebrate fifty years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations, an accomplishment in which Chile moved ahead of its region. Indeed, in the early 1970s, Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the second in Latin America after Cuba. Along the same lines, it was also the first country in Latin America to support the entry of the PRC into the World Trade Organization and then in 2004 the first in the region to recognize the Asian giant as a market economy. Besides, in commercial terms, Chile was the first country in Latin America to sign a free trade agreement with the Asian giant. These milestones have become a fundamental part of Chinese-Chilean relations and, without a doubt, have undoubtedly contributed to consolidate China as one of Chile’s great partners.

The strengthening of Chinese-Chilean relations has been favored by the adherence of both countries to the principles of respect for the principles of open trade, the promotion of multilateralism and a more multipolar world. Both countries support the cause of world peace in international organizations and participate fully in the Asia–Pacific region, which they observe as one of the main development poles of the new global governance.

Among the most remarkable characteristics of the Chinese-Chilean ties is the willingness of both states to work together in the long term, understanding that cooperation favors a higher level of development in both nations. It is with this perspective that in more than four decades of diplomatic relations, Chile and China have progressively deepened their relations in all areas. The creation of institutional links and the intensification of high-level visits allowed the incorporation of new work areas. This led in 2016 to elevating the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and new memoranda were signed to deepen the free trade agreement that had been in force for ten years. This progress shows how the links between the two nations are diversifying and incorporating fields as far away as the field of outer space, biotechnology and the development of new materials equipped with high technology.

Chile has based its foreign policy towards China on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as on an invariable support for the “One China policy.” The maintenance of dialogues through countless official visits and the generation of consultation mechanisms among the Ministries concerned, has ensured stability and sustainability to our relationship. For the past 28 years, every Chilean president, regardless of their political ideology, has made at least one official visit to China. At the same time, Chile has signed different cooperation agreements to institutionalize the relationship between the two countries (comprehensive strategic partnership agreements and free trade agreements among the most important).

In the course of these last decades, we have shared in the international organizations various initiatives that promote multilateralism, the conformation of a multipolar international system, and a fair international economic order. In this regard, Chile has been actively interested in the Belt and Road Initiative as a complementary proposal for the Asia Pacific region, which allows to reduce geographical and communicational barriers through the development of greater connectivity and infrastructure. In the recent visit of President Sebastián Piñera, in May 2019, the Chilean government signed a new understanding agreement that facilitates the participation of our country in the initiative proposed by China.

In few areas, the importance that this relationship is more visible than in the commercial and economic sphere. Chile has been, in Latin America, one of the countries that has benefited most from trade relations with China. The early free trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations has allowed Chile to have priority access to this Asian market, in addition to importing high-tech products at a competitive price. Since 2017, after a positive evaluation of the FTA by both parties, a deepening phase began, in which Chile seeks to continue being a provider of primary resources, but also to attract new Chinese investments, especially in infrastructure and in the technological development of the mining and agriculture. On the other hand, Chile seeks to position itself as a commercial platform for the entry of the main brands of Chinese products and services to the South American market.

Thus, China has become the number one destination market for Chilean exports. In the same way as in the course of recent years, our country has become an important recipient of investments from China. According to figures from InvestChile, the Chilean government’s investment organization, the investment flows went from USD 310 M in 2016 to more than USD 1800 M in 2018. It is important to mention here a series of measures and agreements that seek to encourage trade and facilitate the financial relationship.

One of them is the Shanghai Free Trade Pilot Zone. In 2015, the authorities of both governments established a pilot platform that allows small and medium- sized Chilean companies to connect directly with the Chinese market through a free trade zone established in Shanghai. This initiative, which includes logistics and port facilities, is positioned as an incentive for the liberation of the Chinese market and the attraction of new investments. In the case of Chile, this initiative is part of the tools available for Chile to operate as an export platform. According to the Chinese authorities themselves, this area functions as an experimental space to test new ways to promote the development of countries through international trade.

Similarly, in May 2015, in the framework of the visit of the Prime Minister of China Mr. Li Keqiang to Chile, financial cooperation agreements were established between the central banks, with the aim of facilitating the use of the Chinese currency in international transactions between both countries. A series of agreements in this field have allowed the establishment of the first financial center of the Chinese currency in Latin America in Chile, positioned as a financial platform for its internationalization in the region. This initiative opens to China the possibility of increasing its financial cooperation and investment throughout the region using Chile as a bridge.

This has undoubtedly been a path of successes and constructive encounters. However, they should not prevent those in the university field with the obligation to nurture a long term vision to society, from observing the new opportunities and challenges that open up to the two countries. In the commercial field we must make a leap forward. Today the need is imposed to transform the commercial exchange based on an export of Chile in raw materials into one in which Chinese investment and technology transfer facilitates a transformation of the Chilean economy. Let us say it in a clearer way. Our trade exchange is uneven. Our exports concentrate mainly in copper and fruit, raw materials that until now we have tried to insert in higher value chains with only limited success. There is a consensus among us that this pattern requires a process of transformation that avoids the trap of economic re-primarization and the “center-periphery scheme” that characterized the relationship of our economy with the industrial centers for more than a century. We need to build a new strategic vision that fully benefits from the transformative role that China is playing in the technology revolution, in matters like artificial intelligence and scientific research. In that respect, the role of scientific development and thus of the universities is essential.

Chile and China have increased their scientific cooperation in a very important way. In 2015 both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the National Commission of Scientific and Technological Research of Chile (CONICYT) in order to encourage the collaboration of researchers from Chile and China in joint initiatives, it specifically seeks to encourage the participation of Chilean physicists, engineers and specialized technicians in research projects and programs of common interest, which includes scientific cooperation in areas such as astronomy and astrophysics; physical natural disasters; polar research; and renewable energy.

An example of this is the South American Astronomy Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASSACA), a platform for collaboration in astronomical research and development of technologies related to the needs of South America. In July 2018, the astronomical center opened its first office in the Antofagasta region, particularly at the Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN), with which they plan to build the first astronomical observatory with Chinese technology in Chile on the Cerro Ventarrones, which will allow, as well as with the other agreements with international observatories installed in Chile, to ensure 10% of the time for the exclusive use of Chilean researchers.

In the same way, the first Data Center for the development of regional astro- informatics has been established. This data center is based on the cooperation agreement signed in 2015 between the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chilean branch of Huawei and the Technical University Federico Santa María (UTFSM) and consists of a modular data center which has a capacity of 1 PB. The creation of new cooperation instances has positioned Chile along with China as a regional platform for scientific and telecommunications development.

Likewise, something similar is developing in the cultural arena. The Regional Centers of the Confucius Institute for Latin America promote and coordinate from Chile the study of the Chinese language and culture at the Latin American level. The Santiago office is positioned as a strategic platform in the processes of deepening the cultural relations of the region with the People’s Republic of China, coordinating training activities and publishing educational and cultural materials for the region as a whole.

The University of Chile has been at the center of the collaboration with Chinese institutions. During the last two decades, several scientific and technical cooperation projects have been consolidated, allowing the development of close relations in various areas of knowledge, such as agriculture, international studies, economics, and public policies, among others. The cooperation in astronomy stands out, culminating in the establishment in 2013 of an astrophysical group in Chilean territory, called the “China- Chile Joint Center for Astronomy (CCJCA)”, located in Cerro Calán as a pole of Sino-South American development.

Today the door is also opened to endless new interactions in with social sciences and humanities, education, arts and, at the same time, data science, engineering, technology and especially innovation, as a fundamental mechanism to move towards a better living for mankind. It must be emphasized that from the perspective of the University of Chile, it is necessary to promote a relationship that, beyond economic exchange, strengthens an association in Science, Technology, Education and Culture, generating innovative dynamics that have as a main goal finding solutions to the challenges and opportunities that our societies face. This implies associating faculties, opening new agreements, and generating opportunities so that master’s and doctoral students at Chinese universities and of the University of Chile can develop their studies in both countries and thus promote and stimulate the academic and cultural bonds.

In this effort to strengthen reciprocal cooperation, the University of Chile has worked together with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) signing a MoU on 2016, with the purpose of exchange of academic materials, publications, and research, and also promoting the mobility of students and professors. In parallel the University has strengthened its ties with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and has become one of the founding members of the International Alliance of Scientific Organizations (ANSO) in 2018, as part of the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Similarly, the University has proposed to inaugurate a Chinese Studies Center this year, under the Institute of International Studies; implement a postgraduate program of Chinese language, through the Center for Languages and Cultures of the World, under the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities; and to prospect the establishment of joint laboratories in areas of special relevance for both countries.

All these cooperation and mutual knowledge initiatives are crossed by a legitimate objective that must be, not only institutional, but national: that is, to define the interests of Chile in its relationship with the People’s Republic of China. What does our country want to achieve from its relationship with China? How can we move forward in an associative relationship that strengthens both our national capacities? The type of development we will have during the twenty-first century depends largely on the answer we give to these questions. And although the responses to these questions come from many sources, the universities have a key role in its definition and most especially ours.

Let me mention some areas in which our cooperation should increase. As both nations face common problems, such as the scarcity of water in some regions, energy constraints and pollution problems, Chile should multiply its academic exchange and scientific collaboration with China, so that these instances give rise to new forces that can continue deepening our relationship.

In the same way, Chile has the opportunity to position itself as a development center for research, development, and innovation projects. In the last five years, a more active Chinese foreign policy has been observed in the generation of platforms both in that country and abroad to seek solutions to global problems. In this context, there is an opportunity for Chile to position itself as a platform to capture non-traditional investments, which in turn allows technology transfer, interdisciplinary academic cooperation, and to continue opening up to the Asia- Pacific region and China.

Increasingly Chile is faced with the dilemma of having to choose between remaining only a business partner and positioning itself as an integral strategic partner of China. During 2016, both nations jointly declared raising their diplomatic status to the category of comprehensive strategic partners. Although this is not a binding agreement, strategic partnerships involve a framework of multidimensional and complex cooperation that includes cooperation in different fields such as technology, security, and culture. In this context, it is worth highlighting the need to better understand the reality and transformation that China has shown and therefore it is essential to continue strengthening mutual learning through university and scientific cooperation.

This anniversary not only has to be commemorated as a tribute to a friendly nation that has become a world power of enormous influence in the future of our civilization, but also as an opportunity to think deeply about a relationship that is already critical to the kind of development that Chile will need during the present century.