India, Chile agree to begin negotiations for trade pact
India, Chile agree to begin negotiations for trade pact
India and Chile on Tuesday announced starting negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership pact as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font held wide-ranging talks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Chile
Gabriel Boric Font prior to their meeting at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi,
Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)
NEW DELHI — India and Chile on Tuesday announced starting negotiations on a
comprehensive economic partnership pact as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font held wide-ranging talks focusing on
boosting the ties in areas of trade, defence, critical minerals and health.
Describing Chile as an important "friend and
partner" for India in Latin America, Modi said several new initiatives
were identified to enhance overall cooperation in the coming decade.
Boric, accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising
ministers, members of Parliament, senior officials and business leaders, is on
a five-day state visit to India.
Following Modi-Boric talks, the two sides signed four
documents including a letter intent for cooperation in Antarctica.
"India and Chile may be at different ends of the
world map, there may be vast oceans separating us, but nature has linked us
with unique similarities," Modi said in his media statement.
He further said: "The waves of the Indian Ocean flow
with the same energy in India as the waves of the Pacific Ocean touch the
shores of Chile."
The two leaders also committed themselves to the vision
of a rules-based international order that respects sovereignty and territorial
integrity of nations, ensures freedom of navigation and overflight as well as
unimpeded lawful commerce, according to a joint statement.
It said Modi and Boric encouraged the two sides to work
together to explore substantial areas for bilateral defence cooperation,
including capacity building and defence industrial collaboration.
Both the leaders agreed to share knowledge in developing
and enhancing each other's capabilities under the existing formal defence
cooperation agreement in place.
The Indian side expressed its desire to receive and train
Chilean military in areas of mutual interests, the joint statement added.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India is ready to
share its positive experience with Chile in the areas of digital public
infrastructure, renewable energy, railways, space and others.
"We welcome the growth in mutual trade and
investment. We agree that there is also untapped potential for further
cooperation in this," he said.
"Today we have instructed our teams to begin
discussions on a mutually beneficial comprehensive economic partnership
agreement."
The prime minister further said that the India-Chile
partnership will be strengthened in the field of critical minerals and work
will be done to establish resilient supply and value chains.
In the field of agriculture, cooperation will be done to
ensure food security by combining each other's capabilities, he said.
"The growing cooperation in the field of defence is
a symbol of our deep mutual trust. We will move forward to create defense
industrial manufacturing and supply chains in this area according to each
other's needs," Modi said.
"We will increase cooperation between the agencies
of both the countries to face common challenges like organised crime, drug
trafficking, terrorism," he said.
"At the global level, India and Chile agree that all
tensions and disputes should be resolved through dialogue," he noted.
The prime minister also noted that India and Chile are
"unanimous that reform of the United Nations Security Council and other
institutions is essential to face global challenges". Together we will
continue to contribute to global peace and stability, he said.
Both sides also signed an agreement on the cultural
exchange.
"We also considered simplifying the visa process
between the two countries. We will also continue to make efforts to increase
student exchange between India and Chile," Modi said.
He said the Chilean president's visit to India has
created a "new energy and enthusiasm" in the relations.
"This energy will give new momentum and direction to
our bilateral relations as well as our cooperation in the entire Latin America
region," he said.
The joint statement said both the leaders expressed their
happiness on signing of the letter of intent to strengthen existing Antarctic
cooperation, which will further facilitate partnership in conservation of
Antarctic marine living resources.
