SANTIAGO -- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has said that Shanghai World Expo 2010 will be the important event in the world.

"Shanghai World Expo will be the most important event in China as well as in the world in 2010 and it is of key significance for Chile to participate in the expo," Bachelet told Xinhua recently.

The remarks were made after Bachelet attended the launching ceremony of Chile's participation of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 last Thursday.

"Chile has decided to participate in the expo and design its own pavilion because we want to convey a clear message to the Chinese government and the Chinese people that Chile is a reliable and capable partner of China," she said.

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Chile will continue to support China in promoting its economic development and boosting its relations with Latin American countries as the two countries share the common aspiration to promote the harmonious and sustainable development of their economies and improve the living standards of their peoples, the president added.

The president regarded Chile's participation in the Shanghai Expo as a new opportunity for boosting bilateral economic and trade ties.

She also said the event would strengthen Chile's status as a platform for Chinese investment to enter Latin America.

The Chilean government decided to actively participate in the event shortly after it received the invitation, she said.

The Chilean pavilion at the Expo, designed by a Chilean company and constructed by a Chinese one, will shorten the gap between the two peoples and facilitate the Chinese people's better understanding of Chile, its product and its people's view on the world and future, said Bachelet.

The president said the friendship between the two countries can be traced back to long time ago, noting that Chile expected its best performance at the Shanghai Expo.

The Shanghai World Expo 2010, under the theme "Better City, Better Life," is expected to build a powerful and lasting pilot example of sustainable and harmonious urban living.