MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile-UK science/technology cooperation talks

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Chilean Foreign Affairs minister Ignacio Walker will meet next week to advance the science and technology understanding reached by President Ricardo Lagos with Prime Minister during his Tuesday visit to London.

"To sustain the rate of growth of our exports means further incorporation of science and technology to ensure added value", President Lagos told the Chilean press after spending 45 minutes with Mr. Blair in 10 Downing Street.

The European Union-Chile free trade and cooperation agreement contemplates a science and technology chapter funded by the EU which so far amounts to 34 million Euros. Chile has invested 14 million in promoting new small and medium enterprises and seven million in modernizing the administration.

According to President Lagos the cooperation program will also include joint scientific research between Chilean, British and other EU universities. Since Britain holds the EU rotating chair in the second half to 2005, talking to Mr. Blair was essential since the EU is currently drafting the 2006/2013 budget.

"The EU-Chile agreement has proved most useful for us and if we can take advantage of all its potential, we can help advance in the science and technology fields", highlighted President Lagos.

Earlier in the day Mr. Lagos was received by the Queen in Buckingham Palace. During the twenty minutes interview President Lagos invited Prince Charles to visit Chile and, according to Chilean sources, Her Majesty recalled how impressed she had been with the smoking Villarica volcano in Araucania Region, when visiting the county in 1968.

Most members of the Royal family have been to Chile, the latest Prince Edward last March.