Chinese and Chilean authorities signed off on six agricultural agreements yesterday as part of a state visit, but avocado market access is yet to be approved by the East Asian giant.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said he wished he had more time in Chile to contemplate the beauty of the Andes

The deals included protocols for Chinese market access for Chilean cow and sheep meat, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for pork tripe exports, an agri-meteorological agreement and a Chinese experimental farm arrangement in Chile, as well as a broad five-year agricultural plan between the two countries.

Agriculture minister Luis Mayol said China's doors were expected to be open for Chilean avocados within three months.

Chilean president Sebastián Piñera highlighted China has become Chile's top trading partner, at a meeting that included topics ranging from an expanded trade agreement to include investments, a collaboration arrangement in Antarctica and invitations for tenders to build a bridge from the Chilean mainland to the country's largest island Chiloé.

"Last year we reached a volume of trade above US$30 billion, which practically meant tripling the trade that we had reached just three years before. We have proposed to the prime minister that we continue on this path, and double trade between both countries again in the near future," he said.

"We have signed important agricultural agreements – Chile already has an experimental farm in China, and with this agreement China will also have an experimental agricultural farm in Chile.

"We have signed agreements that allow for ease of trade and Chilean agricultural exports to China, which with its enormous potential represents a giant opportunity in growth and development for Chilean agriculture."

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