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Advertisers Ski Portillo Chile
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Foreign affairs agenda makes Latin American region a priority
Given that Chile has implemented an open-market economic model, its international persona is very important. Unilaterally, this South American country has been very aggressive in its approach to free commerce and globalization. It has placed much attention on consolidating its democracy, accentuating judicial independence, and creating an attractive, transparent and easily accessible investment scenario.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister Soledad Alvear, the recently elected government has placed profound “emphasis on integrating the political, economic, cultural and judicial platforms to its foreign affairs policy in order to attain a consolidated national strategy.” As part of the external agenda, President Ricardo Lagos wishes to incorporate a “13th region to Chile” composed of all the Chileans living abroad. By this, he means giving them the right of absentee vote.
Another fundamental aspect is the commitment to developing bilateral and multilateral agreements that will expand the export-oriented economy. The government’s principal objective is geared toward relations with the neighboring countries, so as to assure a peaceful environment and economic development based on the stability and prosperity of the region. Proof of this was the first official state visit, which was to Argentina. Through this trip, Lagos reiterated his promise to make Latin American relations a priority so that challenges introduced by globalization might be faced as a region.
Concurrently, the Southern Cone Common Market (Spanish acronym: Mercosur), composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay is a focal point for Chile, which is an associate member. The goal is establishing a process that would gradually integrate Chile as a full member; once Mercosur further advances in opening its markets to the extent that its external tariffs approximate the levels that Chile has achieved.
Other objectives are enhancing relations with the other two bordering neighbors, Peru and Bolivia, and reinforcing the already-existing free trade agreements with Latin American countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and Costa Rica, in addition to creating new ones.
Alvear has mentioned that with respect to the United States, Chile plans to “consolidate a more mature relationship, not limited to commercial aspects, and focused on fomenting democracy and education as well as diminishing drug traffic.” As for Canada, the task is creating even stronger ties.
Another important initiative is the Political and Economic Association between Chile and the European Union. This recently established organization has the purpose of highlighting the collaboration, development and competitiveness of both constituents and creating a free-trade zone.
For Chile, establishing a free-trade area with the most developed economies of the Asian Pacific Rim is a goal that the republic is envisioning for the year 2010. In the meantime, it is advancing in negotiating agreements with some of these countries, such as Korea.
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Table of Contents New president focuses on future while reconciling the past |
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As we move closer to the so-called “global village,” countries are faced with notions of what is considered to be a developed country, an emerging one and one still figuring out its internal capabilities. Furthermore, these economic trends pose another question: how will countries with different realities relate with each other? In this day and age, it’s not so much where you are, but how well connected you are. Having said this, it is important to note that as the world is being transformed by innovation and technology, so is the manner by which countries expedite their foreign affairs.