MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile/UK permanent high level political dialogue

Lord David Trieman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Chile and the Great Britain agreed Monday to set up permanent high level political dialogue and increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Collaboration will focus on energy, environmental and social issues.

"We have agreed that Chile will become the third country in Latin America with which the UK has a permanent dialogue" said Chile's Foreign Secretary Alejandro Foxley following an hour-long meeting with Lord David Triesman, Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for relations with Latin America, who arrived Monday in Santiago for the start of a two-day visit. "I am delighted to be making this visit to Chile. The UK values its relationship with Chile very highly. Our two governments have much to gain from working still more closely on international issues of mutual concern, which is why I am pleased to be inaugurating a process of High Level Political Talks with the Foreign Minister", said Lord Triesman. Mexico and Brazil are the only other countries with which Great Britain currently holds similar agreements. "We have a very strong friendship with these countries and work together on various subjects within the UN," said Triesman. Chile also hopes to communicate more with the European Union through cooperation with the UK. Lord Triesman is scheduled to make a keynote speech on Latin America at the International Relations Institute in Santiago.