ABU DHABI: Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Monday begins a landmark official visit to the UAE, the first since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1978.
The two countries recently completed successful negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and key announcements regarding the agreement are expected to be made during the visit.
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CEPA covers key areas such as food security, technology, investment and space, and is expected to strengthen economic cooperation and boost trade and investment between the UAE and Chile.
During the visit, President Boric will discuss with President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan various aspects of cooperation, particularly in the areas of economy, trade and development that serve the priorities and sustainable development path of both countries.
The visit will reposition bilateral relations and take them to new heights, with the goal of expanding areas of cooperation, strengthening joint efforts to tackle global challenges, and building a brighter and more resilient future.
It also highlights the shared ambition to find solutions to major global issues such as climate action and sustainability, which is in line with the commitments of both countries and has translated into projects and initiatives that support international efforts.
The visit reaffirms the UAE’s ambitions to build bridges of cooperation with countries around the world to foster mutual prosperity, and supports the UAE’s vision to strengthen its trade and investment presence in Latin America and accelerate sustainable economic growth.
The UAE is committed to a robust approach to establishing strong relationships and partnerships with countries around the world, in line with the vision of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who stresses the importance of developing a common vision to work together in the pursuit of progress.
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Chile date back to 1978 and continue to grow with stronger ties seen in various political, economic and cultural spheres. Chile opened a trade office in Dubai in 2006 and an embassy in Abu Dhabi in April 2009, while the UAE established an embassy in Santiago in June 2011.
Economic relations between the two countries have continued to grow over the past few years, with the signing of several economic agreements to improve and strengthen trade exchanges, the value of which reached approximately $281 million in 2020.
According to official sources, Chile’s main exports to the UAE include potassium nitrate, sodium, wood and a variety of food products, while the UAE exports phones, mobile devices, electronic products and certain industrial materials to Chile.