The Chilean government recently presented the design for the Chilean Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010. The 2000sqm pavilion, named ‘Sprout of a New City’ was designed by Sabbagh Arquitectos.

This was the first Latin American country to sign their participation on the Expo with their own pavilion.

The government emphasized that this pavilion will strength the relation between both countries, current commercial partners exchanging over US$17 billion.

From the organisators:

‘Chile signed its 2010 World Expo participation contract with China in Shanghai on May 2nd, becoming the first Latin American country to officially sign on.

The signing came as a Chilean government delegation, led by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, visited Shanghai for two days as part of an ongoing Chilean Week in Shanghai.

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng met Bachelet and her delegation before the two sides witnessed Chile’s Expo contract signing ceremony.

‘We highly appreciate Chile’s full support and active participation in the Shanghai Expo and wish Shanghai has a closer trade and economic partnership with Chile and Chilean entrepreneurs,’ Han said.

Bachelet, the first-ever woman Chilean president who is on her first visit to China after becoming president in 2006, arrived in the city on Monday evening and attended an entrepreneurs seminar in the city yesterday morning.

She delivered a speech at the seminar entitled ‘Chile, a Strategic Partner in Latin America,’ which focused on Chile’s strategic partnership with China.

‘Chile attaches great importance to developing bilateral ties with China, and we will also exert our advantages to serve as a platform for Chinese companies to enter Latin America,’ she said when talking with Han.’