Hard-right president-elect Jose Antonio Kast met with leftist President Gabriel Boric earlier this week to coordinate the transfer after December's election.

But the meeting ended abruptly after Kast accused Boric of withholding information about the contentious submarine cable project with China Mobile.

The project for a cable linking China and Chile aims to expand Pacific connectivity and data capacity, while also reducing Chile's near-total reliance on cables running through the United States.

Washington, which gave its backing to Kast in his election bid against Boric, opposes the Chinese cable project on national security grounds.

Kast had suspended cooperation with Boric on the transition, set for Wednesday, saying he did not trust the information provided by the outgoing government.

"The differences that may have existed are behind us," Boric told a press conference after talks with Kast at the Moneda palace in Santiago.

The goal "is to ensure there is no doubt about the full intent for transparency in all relevant matters... particularly for affairs of state and security," he added.

Kast said that "we agreed to do everything necessary" for a smooth handover.

Last month, Washington revoked the visas of three Chilean officials, including Boric's minister of transport and telecommunications -- a rare rebuke by the United States of one of its closest South American allies.

cm/gv/js/ksb

CHINA MOBILE