Colombia and Chile will form a strategic alliance for bilateral development and will intensify trade between the two countries and Peru, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Piñera announced Wednesday.
“We have laid the foundations of a strategic alliance between Colombia and Chile,” Piñera said after meeting with Santos in the presidential palace in the Colombian capital Bogota.
According to Piñera, he and Santos had a “fruitful” meeting and will now “together face the great challenges ahead such as development, the eradication of poverty and the achievement of well-being.”
As part of the strategic alliance the two presidents signed agreements on mining, defense trade and culture that “directly benefit the two peoples.”
The two presidents also talked about a recent proposal by Peruvian President Alan Garcia to open the borders between Colombia, Chile and Peru. Both Santos and Piñera said that they are in favor of this plan.
“We are interconnected countries, with a coast at the same ocean, with similar needs and ideals and have much to do if we unite forces,” Santos said.
The Chilean President added he would further discuss the Peruvian initiative when Garcia visits Chile on Thursday.