Joint Statement: Official visit of his Excellency the President of the Republic of Chile, Sebastián Piñeira

By invitation of the President of the Argentine Republic, Mauricio Macri, the President of the Republic of Chile, Sebastián Piñeira, with his wife, Cecilia Morel, and his delegation, held an official visit to the Argentine Republic on 25-26 April 2018. Both Presidents reviewed all the items on the bilateral, regional and global agendas, confirming a high level of agreement between both nations. In the context of the fraternal bonds between both countries, the Presidents reaffirmed the strategic partnership and addressed various issues on the bilateral agenda: They agreed to convene the Ninth Binational Meeting of Ministers in Santiago, Chile, during the first half of August 2018, at which each Ministry will identify the projects to be promoted in the context of the bilateral relationship and adopt a concrete working plan to that end. They also agreed to convene the Seventh Binational Meeting of Chilean Mayors and Argentine Governors of the Common Border, an institutional mechanism which facilitates the strengthening and streamlining of border integration procedures. They agreed to work on the development of the Southern region of both countries. Furthermore, they convened the dialogue mechanism in the field of defence, which is essential to enhance confidence in defence and international security matters between both countries. In this regard, they scheduled a meeting of the Standing Committee on Security between Argentina and Chile (COMPERSEG) to be held in June, as well as a 2+2 Mechanism meeting between Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, to be held during the second half of 2018. In the context of the positive bilateral trade relationship between both countries and in order to achieve growth, the Presidents undertook to submit, within the next fifteen days, the Trade Agreement signed on 2 November 2017 to their respective National Congresses for approval. The Presidents underscored the importance of the prompt entry into force of the agreement, which will create the necessary conditions for the sustained growth of highly diversified bilateral trade and reciprocal investment, thus creating new opportunities in various service sectors, as well as in e-commerce and the promotion of the environmental, labour and gender agendas in bilateral trade, which are the pillars of sustainable and inclusive development. Recognizing the importance of integration into global and regional value chains, as well as the role of the business sector in this process, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Business Clusters. Through this agreement, a Binational Working Group on Business Clusters was created to implement a concrete Working Plan which will identify bilateral business cluster sectors and types in various fields of economic activity, in order to diversify and add value to exports from both Parties to third countries. Moreover, the Presidents signed a new agreement on free trade, exports, imports and energy resource transport between both countries. They also announced that a study will be conducted in order to identify four electrical interconnection alternatives between Chile and Argentina, in order to determine the benefits and the legal feasibility of electrical interconnections between both countries. Furthermore, they signed a Protocol on Digital Signatures, which they agreed to submit to ALADI within 30 days, in order to facilitate its prompt entry into force. This Protocol will help streamline commercial transactions, particularly for the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises, through the digital signing of documents. They also welcomed the launch of the Pilot Plan between both countries on the implementation of Digital Certificates of Origin. This will be done during May of this year and will contribute to the facilitation, efficiency and certainty of the exchange of goods between both States. Moreover, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Creative Industries which will help strengthen trade in services pertaining to creative industries, as well as form strategic partnerships for regional, provincial and third country integration. The Presidents also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a website which will help strengthen bilateral trade for small and medium-sized enterprises, with a special focus on policies on integration with neighbouring countries. They welcomed the level of coordination between the Ministry of Security of the Argentine Republic and the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security of the Republic of Chile, and urged the authorities responsible for public security of both States to continue their joint work in order to dismantle organized crime networks. In addition, they urged the relevant national authorities to continue fulfilling the commitments made as regards the fight against drug trafficking and the prevention of addictions at the Joint Drug Committee held in Buenos Aires in October 2017, and agreed to convene a new meeting of the Committee, to be held in Santiago, Chile, during the first half of 2019. The Presidents signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Cybersecurity, which will help tackle growing threats in this field, and agreed to establish a Binational Coordination Working Group which will seek to coordinate cooperation efforts and initiatives between both countries, including the private sector, civil society, the technical community and the academic world. Moreover, the Presidents highlighted the importance of continued collaboration on comprehensive disaster risk management, resilience-building and emergency response to potential threats that may cause serious harm to individuals or damage to basic services, property or the environment. They also directed their Foreign Ministers to convene, as soon as possible, a meeting of the Argentina-Chile Joint Committee on Disasters in order to create a Joint Force for Wildfire Management. The Presidents agreed to create an Inter-ministerial Binational Committee to follow up on the commitments made by Argentina and Chile in the field of facilitation of border procedures and port of entry infrastructure, which will assess the fulfilment of such commitments in a biannual report to be submitted to the Presidents of both countries. The first report is to be submitted on the occasion of the Binational Cabinet meeting next August. These reports will assess each commitment undertaken, set forth deadlines for compliance and introduce measures to ensure those deadlines are met. In addition, the Presidents agreed on the need to streamline border services, in order to expedite the movement of citizens between both countries. Both Governments reaffirmed that the Cristo Redentor Border Crossing is a top priority to enhance bilateral connectivity. As a result, road and border infrastructure works are underway in order to optimize the flow of people and cargo along the crossing. In this regard, the Presidents directed their respective Foreign Ministries to promptly sign a Letter of Commitment to start the works in the Caracoles Border Crossing. Both Presidents were briefed on the state of the border crossing projects of Agua Negra and Las Leñas. In order to revitalize and enhance land interconnectivity between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as to plan a series of projects and a programme of border crossing improvement and maintenance works, both Presidents agreed to convene a meeting of the Joint Technical Group (JTG) coordinated by both Ministries of Foreign Affairs, to be held in June. Moreover, they called for the strengthening of dialogue and cooperation between the Argentine National Service for Agri-food Health and Quality (SENASA) and the Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) as regards access of agro-industrial products into the respective markets and enhanced and more effective sanitary and phytosanitary controls in border crossings. The Presidents acknowledged the importance of intensifying work within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation on Agriculture, Livestock Farming, Forestry, Agro-industry and Rural Development, signed on 30 March 2011; the advancement of key issues addressed at the Eighth Binational Meeting held between the Argentine Minister of Agro-industry and the Chilean Minister of Agriculture in 2016, and the prompt signing and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between SENASA and the Chilean National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA). They also directed tourism authorities to identify integrated tourism circuits and to jointly promote them in third countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. They highlighted the progress made as regards the creation of the first Joint National Park, thus reaffirming their mutual interest in protecting and preserving the natural resources of both countries. In addition, the Presidents instructed their Foreign Ministers to develop concrete initiatives on this issue, within the framework of the Specialized Committee on Parks. In order to advance scientific issues of mutual interest, they agreed to establish a Bilateral Committee on Southern Marine Scientific Cooperation and determine its geographical area of operation, as well as its formation by public entities and the specific issues on which both countries consider such cooperation appropriate. This will help develop a common agenda which will include, among other issues, the first joint marine scientific voyage through the Beagle Channel and the assessment of the creation of a scientific marine area of mutual interest that includes the Chilean Marine Park of Diego Ramírez Islands - Drake Passage and the future Argentine Marine Protected Area of Taganes. The Presidents also reiterated their keen interest in further developing and expanding various scientific initiatives and cooperation mechanisms by fostering convergent positions in major Antarctic Treaty System fora, as well as by promoting scientific and logistic cooperation. Moreover, they underscored the importance of the joint work carried out by both countries on the establishment of a Marine Protected Area in the Antarctic Peninsula and the Southern Scotia Arc, within the framework of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). They also reaffirmed their commitment towards the implementation of the Bi-oceanic Road Corridor, which will join southeastern Brazil, Paraguay and the Argentine Provinces of Salta and Jujuy with northern Chilean ports. This initiative seeks to strengthen regional integration and facilitate strategic access to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Presidents agreed to continue developing public works, as well as a Pilot Plan in order to expedite border procedures and conduct efficient and effective border controls and inspections, as agreed by the Presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay on 21 December 2017. They also highlighted the importance of bilateral and decentralized cooperation between both countries, which currently have 23 projects in the pipeline, on issues such as economic development, justice and human rights, agro-industry, renewable energies and healthcare, in order to strengthen and supplement the capabilities of both countries and contribute to integration. In addition, they underscored the "First Decentralized Cooperation Forum", in which 10 Argentine provinces and 7 Chilean regions participate. Furthermore, they highlighted that policies aimed at social protection constitute a priority for both countries and agreed to coordinate exchange and joint work strategies in order to strengthen these initiatives. They also underscored the need to support their people throughout the various stages of their lives in order to achieve true social integration. The Presidents expressed their intention to adopt a forward-looking approach at the 2030 Strategic Forum for Dialogue and Reflection, prioritizing emergent issues for both countries. For such purpose, they decided to make progress on the creation of a Binational Council for the Future, in order to address issues pertaining to science, technology, connectivity, sustainable development and market alliances. The Presidents agreed to strengthen dialogue and establish closer ties between MERCOSUR and the Pacific Alliance, in order to revitalize the relationship between both mechanisms. In that vein, they agreed to move forward with the Roadmap drafted in Buenos Aires on 7 April 2017, which sets forth areas of work pertaining to regional value chains, International Trade Single Windows, border cooperation, trade promotion, SMEs, non-tariff barriers to trade and facilitation of trade in services. President Piñeira expressed his interest in Argentina expanding its participation in the Pacific Alliance, in order to upgrade its current observer status. President Piñeira expressed his satisfaction at the invitation extended to Chile by the Argentine Government to participate in the G20. Both Presidents undertook to bring a southern perspective to the G20 and improve debate by adopting an approach focused on the issues affecting their countries. They also reaffirmed their commitment to build consensus in the search for concrete solutions as regards the future of work, infrastructure for development and sustainable food security for the future. President Piñeira reiterated the support of the Chilean Government and People for the legitimate sovereignty rights of the Argentine Republic over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. In this regard, he ratified the need for the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations in order to find a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute as soon as possible, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and of other regional and multilateral fora. On behalf of the Argentine Government and People, President Macri thanked the Republic of Chile for its traditional and valuable support as regards the Question of the Malvinas Islands. President Piñeira, on his behalf and on that of his wife Cecilia Morel and his delegation, expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome received during his Official Visit to Argentina, as well as for the demonstrations of kindness and friendship of the Argentine Government, authorities and People.