The Presidents of Chile and Costa Rica sign agreements on gender equality and the environment to promote cooperation between the two countries
The two presidents held a bilateral meeting in San José, Costa Rica, during which they also made a commitment to modernize the Free Trade Agreement with Central America.
The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, and the President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, signed various agreements regarding gender equality and the environment on Monday.
The leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace in San José, Costa Rica, in order to expand cooperation between the two countries and committed to work together on environmental issues and promote women’s participation in the labor force.
“This is a great opportunity for us. It is a privilege to visit Costa Rica, a country with which we have always shared the values that make nations great, including freedom, democracy and respect for human rights,” President Piñera said.
The topics that the two leaders addressed include the countries’ interest in modernizing the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the leadership that both countries wish to promote in science and technology, which is a priority for the two administrations.
In regard to regional matters, the presidents discussed the situation in Nicaragua and made a commitment to lead a “regional alliance in defense of democracy.”
President Piñera began his third international trip last Friday. He attended the 39th Summit of Heads of State of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Jamaica as a special guest, and then traveled on to Costa Rica and Panama.
“We are pleased because we have signed collaboration agreements and two memoranda of understanding to strengthen collaboration on such important areas as full and complete gender equality – equality of rights, duties and dignity between men and women - and zero tolerance for all forms of violence and abuse against women. We have reached a second memorandum of understanding to better protect our environment and natural surroundings. We are very much aware that Costa Rica has been a trailblazer in these two areas,” the Chilean President said.
In regard to the visit, President Alvarado said, “it is a true pleasure for us to strengthen our ties with Chile. We share values of democracy and freedom and our peoples’ desire for a better future. I am also grateful that we have expanded our discussion to include the challenges to democracy that the region is facing.”