President Boric visit to India:
India welcomed President Boric on 1st April. Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with President Boric.
Historic Ties:
President Boric and Prime Minister Modi recalled the historic diplomatic ties that were established in 1949, growing trade linkages, people-to-people linkages, cultural ties and also the warm and cordial bilateral relations between both countries.
They expressed desire for further expanding and deepening of the multifaceted relationship between the two countries in all areas of mutual interests.
What happened at the meeting?
During their meeting, the two leaders comprehensively reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations spanning a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, health and pharmaceuticals, defence and security, infrastructure, mining and mineral resources, agriculture and food security, green energy, ICT, digitization, innovation, disaster management, cooperation in science and technology, education and people-to-people linkages.
- While highlighting the positive effects generated by the expansion of the India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement in May 2017, which has resulted in substantial increase in bilateral trade, the two leaders emphasized the need for further strengthening of bilateral trade mechanisms that could open new opportunities for expansion of bilateral trade.
To further promote trade relations as well as people-to-people interactions, President Boric announced Chile’s decision to grant a Multiple Entry Permit for Indian businesspersons which will streamline the visa process.
E-Visa:
Acknowledging the people-to-people linkages as an important pillar to promote bilateral ties and to facilitate business, tourism, student and academic exchanges, Indian side has already put in place a flexible visa regime, including by extending e-visa facility for Chilean travellers to India.
The two sides agreed to work together on initiatives to strengthen supply chains and local value chains by fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and understandings in mining and minerals, including the possibility of long-term supply of minerals and materials from Chile to India.
Both leaders agreed to explore the opening up of new avenues for cooperation in health and pharmaceuticals, space, ICT, agriculture, green energy, traditional medicine, Antarctica, Science & Technology, management of natural disasters, sports, Startups, cooperatives, and audiovisual co-production, through the exchange of experiences and good practices among the agencies responsible for these matters.
Health Sector:
The two leaders noted the importance of traditional medicines and Yoga in preserving health and wellbeing.
Towards this, both countries agreed to collaborate and intensify the promotion and use of evidence-based, integrative, Traditional Medicine, Homeopathy, and Yoga by signing an MoU.
Chilean side welcomed Indian companies to participate in infrastructure projects including in railway sector.
Defense:
The two leaders encouraged the two sides to work together to explore substantial areas for bilateral defense cooperation, including capacity building and defense industrial collaboration.
Both agreed to share knowledge in developing and enhancing each other’s capabilities under the existing formal defense cooperation agreement in place.
Indian side highlighted that Chile has been kept on priority while offering opportunities in training at Defense Services Staff College, NDC, NDA and HDMC, apart from slots for specialized courses in mountain warfare and peacekeeping operations previously made available.
Indian side expressed its desire to receive and train Chilean military in areas of mutual interests.
Antarctic Cooperation:
Both leaders expressed their happiness on signing of the Letter of Intent to strengthen existing Antarctic cooperation.
Both India and Chile are Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty and reaffirmed their commitment to deepen scientific understanding of Antarctic for the benefit of both parties and the global community.
Space Partnership :
Recalling the two countries’ decades-long partnership in space, the two leaders noted the ongoing engagements in the space sector between the two countries, including the launching of a satellite belonging to Chile (SUCHAI-1) by India in 2017 as a co-passenger under a commercial arrangement.
They welcomed the constitution of Space Executive Committee by Chile to work on cooperation including in the areas of exploration in space, R&D, training, satellite building, launch and operation and peaceful use of outer space with ISRO, IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) and Startups.
Digital Technology:
Leaders expressed mutual interest in growth of investment, joint ventures, technological development and markets in the IT and digital space, including promoting collaboration in Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI), thereby democratizing access to digital services for people and businesses.
Both leaders acknowledged the efforts by the two sides in exploring early implementation of cooperation in the digital payments sectors.
They committed to work for developing closer cooperation between the vibrant Startup ecosystems of the two countries.
Both leaders expressed their desire for advancing on signing of an understanding on cooperation in the areas of Digital Transformation to facilitate deeper engagement between tech communities of both countries.
UN Security Council:
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reformed multilateralism and for comprehensive reforms of the UN Security Council, including its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to make it more representative, accountable, transparent, inclusive and effective, reflecting the geopolitical realities of the 21st Century.
The Chilean side reiterated its support for India’s candidature for a permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.
Both reiterated their commitment to work together in Financial Action Task Force (FATF), No Money For Terror (NMFT) and other multilateral platforms to combat terrorism.
The two leaders also reiterated the importance of early finalization of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
Green Energy:
The two leaders called for increased joint investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, utilization and storage technologies, energy efficiency, and other low-carbon solutions that will have the potential to accelerate sustainable economic growth and foster job creation.
President Boric welcomed India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and reiterated strong support as a member since November 2023.
Recognizing the growing significance of technology enabled learning solutions, skills development, and institutional capacity building, India and Chile reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in these areas.
Cultural Ties:
The two leaders acknowledged the role of cultural ties in bringing the people of the two countries closer to each other.
They lauded the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India and Chile and appreciated the long-standing cultural exchanges between the two nations.
The leaders applauded the growing interest in the study of the cultures and languages in both countries with Spanish being among the popular foreign languages in India.
They stressed the mutual interest in further strengthening India – Chile cultural cooperation and the reinforcement of cooperation among cultural institutions of the two countries.
They welcomed the signing of new Cultural Exchange Program to promote bilateral exchanges in music, dance, theatre, literature, museums and festivals.
Source: PIB