The tenth anniversary of China Construction Bank in Chile highlights the international growth of the RMB and creates new opportunities for foreign investment in key sectors, strengthening Chile’s position as a regional financial hub.
China is Chile’s leading trading partner, and its financial presence in the country has marked a significant shift in the bilateral relationship.
This week, China Construction Bank (CCB) celebrated its tenth anniversary in Chile. The ceremony featured the presentation of the 2025 RMB International Expansion Report - New Opportunities, New Dynamics, to boost the influence of the Renminbi (RMB) and encourage its adoption in Chile and South American markets.
Present at the event were General Manager of CCB Chile, Zhang Pu; Chinese Ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao; former Chilean President Eduardo Frei; President of the Chilean Financial Market Commission (CMF), Solange Bernstein; and InvestChile Director, Karla Flores.
Niu Qingbao thanked CCB for its efforts in promoting bilateral trade and investment. Meanwhile, Eduardo Frei emphasized the crucial role of Chinese institutions in fostering economic ties and promoting higher investment levels between the two countries.
Strategic projects and the growth of Chinese investment
InvestChile Director Karla Flores’s speech highlighted that the RMB ecosystem has played a crucial role in attracting Chinese capital to Chile.
In 2023 alone, 17 investment projects from Chinese companies totaled US$4 billion, making China the fourth-largest economy of origin in InvestChile’s portfolio.
These projects are concentrated in strategic sectors, including electricity transmission, public infrastructure, the lithium industry, technology and science—areas where Chile needs investment to improve quality and add value.
RMB: a motor for international business in Chile
In 2015, the People’s Bank of China appointed CCB Chile as the first RMB clearing bank in South America. Since then, the institution has played a key role in:
- Facilitating trade and investment transactions in local currency and RMB
- Providing more efficient and secure settlement services for foreign companies
- Expanding the cooperation network with local banks
- Leading the Association of Chinese Companies in Chile, fostering collaboration with the Chilean private sector
For foreign companies, operating directly in RMB helps lower costs and reduce exchange rate risks, enhances price predictability, and improves cash flow in long-term projects, resulting in more competitive investment conditions in Chile.
New foreign investment opportunities in Chile
The international expansion of the RMB in Chile boosts bilateral trade and creates an attractive environment for investors across various sectors. From mining and energy to infrastructure, logistics, financial services and clean technology, companies can benefit from:
- Preferential access to RMB financing, diversifying risks away from the dollar
- Specialized financial services in emerging markets
- A regional platform for operations in South America
At the ceremony, InvestChile Director Karla Flores remarked that CCB’s anniversary also offers an opportunity to expand financial cooperation and attract new foreign investment to Chile, aligning with the country’s strategy of establishing itself as a regional business hub.
Director Flores reiterated her invitation to Chinese and international companies to invest in Chile, emphasizing the experience, technology and vision for the future they can bring.
«Today we celebrate ten years of an instrument that not only facilitated trade and finance but also laid the groundwork for a more sophisticated, resilient and mutually beneficial economic relationship,» Flores said.
Projections: Chile as a regional financial hub
The CCB has announced it will continue to carefully and confidently promote the international expansion of the RMB, enhance its global competitiveness, expand its offshore product portfolio and grow the international use of the currency.
This commitment represents a strategic advantage for Chile to consolidate itself as a regional financial hub, capable of attracting more foreign direct investment and facilitating commercial operations with its leading trading partner, China.
In recent years, other Chinese banks have also established a presence in our country. To learn more, check out the following article.
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