At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Heraldo Munoz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, Rodolfo Nin, made an official visit to Chile today.
Minister Nin was received by the President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, and Foreign Minister Muñoz, with whom he discussed the state of bilateral relations.
The purpose of the official visit was to promote further strengthening of the close ties of friendship and cooperation between Uruguay and Chile, and to further contribute to deepening the excellent level reached in bilateral relations between the two countries.
At the meeting of the ministers, Minister Muñoz gave Minister Nin a letter from President Bachelet to the President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vazquez, extending a cordial invitation to make an official visit to Chile on a date to be determined through diplomatic channels.
The two ministers also discussed the main issues of the bilateral relationship as well as the regional and multilateral agendas of interest to both countries.
At the bilateral level, several issues were highlighted, such as the effective implementation of bilateral cooperation projects focused on social development, environment, energy and production development; the exchange of background information for the investigation of human rights violations perpetrated in the dictatorship in both countries; cooperation and coordination in Antarctic matters; and the positive state of bilateral trade and incentives for mutual investment between the two countries.
Regarding regional integration, ideas about the present and future of UNASUR and CELAC were exchanged, as well as the convergence of the Pacific Alliance and MERCOSUR.
With shared principles and values, both countries base their relationship in multilateral organizations, like their joint work in the United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the support of Chile so that Uruguay may be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (for the 2016-2017 period).
It was also highlighted that the recent election of former Foreign Minister of Uruguay, Luis Almagro, as the new Secretary General of the OAS was supported by Chile.
Similarly, the Foreign Ministers agreed to jointly promote triangular cooperation projects in third countries in the region, which is the reason why the authorities decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Chile and Uruguay in the near future.
In the framework of the official visit, Minister Muñoz decorated the Uruguayan Foreign Minister with the medal in the order of Grand Cross of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins, testifying to strengthening of the traditional friendship ties, cooperation and existing integration between both countries, as well as the fruitful work of Minister Nin during his highest state functions as Vice-President from 2005 to 2010 and then as Senator of the Republic.
Finally, Minister Nin thanked Minister Muñoz for the warm welcome and hospitality he has received, and the various tokens of appreciation and friendship extended by the Government and the Chilean people during his official visit to the Republic of Chile.