Madrid (EFE) European and Chilean.
Sánchez has expressed this commitment in the meeting that both have held in the Palacio de la Moncloa on the occasion of Boric’s work visit to Spain and during which he will also be received by the king.
Meeting before the EU-CELAC summit
The meeting was held three days before the EU-CELAC summit (which includes the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean) begins on Monday in Brussels and has been an event that has placed the rotating Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU.
A summit that, in a joint appearance with Boric at the end of their meeting, Sánchez has considered to be very important to give a boost to the relationship between the two regions.
“We believe that Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean are called upon to maintain a strategic relationship in which both regions can be mutually strengthened,” he added before thanking Boric for his presence at the Brussels summit and stressing that he will have a very notable participation of Heads of State and Government of both the EU and CELAC.
An appointment that has stated that it will mean “a turning point” in the ties between the two regions because decisions will be adopted such as the establishment of a mechanism for dialogue and permanent consultation at different levels and a political impulse will be given to close pending trade agreements.
It was in this context that he recalled that the EU and Chile are working on updating the existing agreement between the two and stressed that Spain is doing everything on its part to ensure that it is closed during this six-month term of the presidency of the Council of the EU.
Boric appreciates the commitment to update the agreement
Boric has appreciated this commitment to update an agreement that he has stated is very important and a source of pride for his country because it is one of the few that has it with the European Union.
“Under the leadership of Pedro Sánchez, relations between Europe and Latin America have deepened”, he added, considering that strengthening ties between regions, even if they are very far apart, is important given the risk suffered by democracy, human rights and international law with attitudes such as Russia’s “illegitimate” invasion of Ukraine.
Sánchez appreciates Chile’s commitment to democracy
The head of government thanked the Chilean president for his “permanent commitment to peace, democracy, freedom and the defense of the principles of the United Nations” and his defense of multilateralism.
Cooperation on issues such as the development of raw materials, and especially lithium, or the promotion of joint projects for ecological transformation and green hydrogen have also been highlighted by Sánchez.
In addition, he referred to the reindustrialization process in Chile to convey to Boric Spain’s desire to collaborate by offering technical assistance and its experience from a regulatory point of view, and he highlighted the interest of Spanish companies that are at the forefront in this field.
For his part, the Chilean president highlighted the notable commercial relationship between the two countries and the fact that Spain is the third European investor in Chile, and has expressed his wish that this relationship continue to grow.
And not only in the exchange of raw materials, but also in technology transfer, knowledge or culture.
Sánchez recalled that Chile is one of the six Latin American countries with which Spain maintains a strategic relationship and within this framework he has placed the agreements signed this Friday in Madrid.
Agreements to relaunch political consultations and cooperate in audiovisual matters, democratic memory and cybersecurity.
Boric referred to the issue of democratic memory to recall that this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the coup in his country that overthrew President Salvador Allende, something that he has indicated urges them to value democracy and its institutions more.