Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet arrived in Manila Sunday afternoon ahead of Asia-Pacific economic leaders for a summit next week as she undertakes her first state visit to the Philippines.
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She was expected to arrive at 11:50 a.m., but her flight was delayed.
Bachelet is now serving her second term as president.
Bachelet was welcomed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Bachelet is the first woman president of Chile, one of the 21 member-economies of APEC.
Before the state luncheon, the two heads of state held a bilateral meeting, witnessed the signing of agreements between our two countries and held a joint press conference.
“The letter of intent signifies the Philippines and Chile’s intent to commence discussions on developing a framework for negotiating a mutually beneficial trade agreement that is flexible and pragmatic as to its depth and scope, which may contribute to an increase in trade, in goods and investments, and the promotion of technical cooperation in areas of mutual interest”, the agreement said.
The MOU aims to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation in the area of disaster risk reduction and management, with special emphasis on the process of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation. “We don’t have tsunamis or typhoons but have earthquakes”, Denegri said. It also exports other mineral products, agriculture and fisheries to other markets in the region via its regional alliance with Latin American countries.
Denegri said the Pacific Alliance, composed of Peru, Chile, Mexico and Colombia, is also interested in forging more cooperation with Asean.
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Latin American have long had trade agreement with the United States and Europe and China, Japan and Korea in Asia.
