SANTIAGO - Cultural and humanitarian exchanges and cooperation are an integral part of the China-Chile comprehensive cooperative partnership, Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong said on Wednesday.

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During a speech in Santiago, Liu hailed the profound traditional friendship between the Chinese and the Chilean peoples despite the long distance between the two countries.

Bilateral ties have enjoyed a good momentum of development as both countries expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields and close coordination in international and regional affairs, Liu said.

Both China and Chile are developing nations. The further development of bilateral ties is not only in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples, but also conducive to boosting China's links with Latin America and South-South cooperation, Liu added

China attaches importance to developing ties with Chile from a strategic height, and is willing to work with the Chilean side to lift their comprehensive cooperative partnership to a higher level, Liu said.

She also urged both sides to further expand their cultural and humanitarian exchanges and cooperation to inject new life into the partnership.

To achieve this, Liu said, both sides should first of all further promote the strategic status of such interactions in bilateral relations.

Secondly, they should endeavor to diversify their cooperation and comprehensively push for exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, healthcare, tourism, sports and between the youths, she said.

Thirdly, both sides should explore new forms and new channels to have more public participation and expand the social effects of such exchanges, added Liu, who is in Chile to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Chile diplomatic ties.

Chile set up diplomatic relations with China on Dec 15, 1970, and was the first South American country to do so.

After visiting Chile, Liu will continue her Latin American and Caribbean tour in Ecuador, Colombia, and Antigua and Barbuda.