Chile praises China for rejecting protectionist policies

Chile’s foreign minister welcomed Chinese representatives to a meeting with Latin American and Caribbean countries on Sunday, praising the Asian nation for rejecting protectionism as the United States backs away from global trade.

Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz, who has criticised US President Donald Trump in the past, told a news conference that Latin America could do a lot more to stimulate trade with China and called on its nations to take advantage of the talks to improve ties.

“We are in uncertain and complex times and China is playing a very constructive role in addressing these complexities,” he said.

China has sought a bigger role overseas since Trump was elected, presenting its Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was abandoned by the United States.

Representatives from China and the 33 members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States are holding meetings on Sunday and Monday in the Chilean capital, Santiago.

China sees it as “natural” to expand its westward infrastructure drive – the “Belt and Road Initiative” initiative – to Latin America, China’s foreign minister said in an interview with a local newspaper on Sunday.