Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy Ni Hong will represent China at the March 11 presidential inauguration of Jose Antonio Kast in Santiago, Chile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on March 9, 2026. The visit underscores Beijing's commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with Latin America.
Ni Hong, who also serves as Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, will attend the ceremony at the invitation of Chilean authorities. This high-level engagement follows Chile's recent expansion of copper exports to the Chinese mainland, which reached a record $12 billion in 2025.
Analysts view the delegation as a strategic move to reinforce China's role in Chile's green energy transition, particularly in lithium mining and solar infrastructure development. "China remains committed to mutually beneficial cooperation with all Latin American partners," stated a ministry spokesperson.
