Minister Alberto van Klaveren accompanies the President on his visit to Spain and signs agreements to strengthen ties between the countries

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, participated today in the official visit to Spain by the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric. This is the first presidential trip to that country and takes place in the context of the recently assumed rotational presidency of Spain of the Council of the European Union and just days before the III Celac-EU Summit.

The presidential visit responds to the interest in intensifying and deepening the ties between both nations in various areas of bilateral and multilateral activities. In this context, the presidential visit included a working meeting with the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, at La Moncloa Palace. Minister van Klaveren was also present at the meeting.

The authorities discussed the great moment in bilateral relations, highlighting issues such as the successful process that has led to the early signing of the Advanced Framework Agreement between Chile and the EU (which modernizes the Association Agreement of 2002), the strengthening of democracy, sustainable development, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

"Spain is committed to promoting the prompt signing of this agreement. The terms of the agreement are totally clear, but obviously some legal and review procedures are still pending", said the Minister after the meeting.

They also discussed the importance of promoting actions that benefit green energy transition, as well as the potential of the policies that must be implemented to bring it to fruition, especially the role that lithium can play. Both leaders also agreed to strongly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

At the meeting, the Foreign Affairs Minister signed a series of agreements to strengthen the ties between the countries: a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in cybersecurity; an international administrative agreement on film and audiovisual co-production; and a joint declaration on enhanced political dialogue on foreign policy. In addition, a general protocol for cooperation between the Secretariat of State for Democratic Memory of the Kingdom of Spain and the Museum of Memory and Human Rights of Chile was signed.

Audience with the king

In addition, Minister Alberto van Klaveren accompanied President Boric to an audience with King Felipe VI, where they discussed bilateral relations and the potential for future collaboration, especially in the areas of trade and investment.

"In both meetings we could notice a great respect for Chile and a great interest in strengthening relations between the two countries. Chile is a country that has been considered a strategic ally of Spain for several years now", the Minister explained.

"Chile is seen as a country with a very solid institutional system, with a clear economic institutional model, with an important fiscal balance and also as a country that offers legal certainty. And that is a condition that is very much appreciated by our Spanish partners. So it has been a very productive visit, made at an opportune moment, precisely on the eve of the summit between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union", he added.

Afterwards, President Boric was the main speaker at an activity organized with the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, in which top executives and representatives of important companies participated.