Chile is the first South American nation to establish diplomatic relations with China and the two also inked a free trade agreement (FTA). Chilean customs data shows its exports to China reached $38.11 billion in 2022, accounting for 38.9 percent of the country’s total exports. Since 2009, China has consistently remained Chile’s largest trading partner, with nearly 90 percent of Chilean cherry exports finding their way to the Chinese market. China’s huge market demand has benefited the development of Chile’s mining, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, contributing to improved employment and workers’ income in Chile. At the core of this fruitful collaboration lies the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which, according to the Chilean Ambassador to China Mauricio Hurtado (Hurtado), has played an essential role in shaping economic ties between China and Chile. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times (GT), Ambassador Hurtado emphasized the great potential for furth