Bachelet begins official visit to China and prepares to participate in economic Forum

BEIJING. -  President Michelle Bachelet arrived to the southern Chinese island of Hainan today to attend the Boao Economic Forum, where the President will meet with the leader of the Asian country, Hu Jintao, on Sunday. 

Bachelet´s arrival at the Forum is the beginning of her official visit to the nation, which will end on the 15th of this month after the President visits Beijing and Shanghai.

The President will be the first Latin American Head of State to attend the Forum, which is expecting some 2,000 participants at its inauguration tomorrow as an opportunity for high-level interaction between leaders from Asia and all over the world.

The Presidents of Pakistan, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Tanzania will also participate in “Boao Asia 2008” along with the Prime Ministers of Sweden, Australia, Kyrgyzstan and Qatar, as well as the King of Tonga.

Bachelet is accompanied by the vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto Van Klaveren; the sub secretary of Housing, María Olivia Recart, the minister of Agriculture, Marigen Hornkohl and the director of Protocol for La Moneda, Fernando Ayala, as well as her daughter Francisca.