Presidents Piñera and Bolsonaro reaffirm commitment and integration efforts, signing a roadmap to strengthen bilateral relations

On Saturday, President Sebastián Piñera received Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, highlighting the good relationship between the two countries and emphasized the importance of regional integration and economic development.

"Brazil is Chile's most important trading partner in Latin America and the main destination of Chilean investments abroad. Our ties are therefore not only historical but also very much in the present," President Piñera said in a joint statement with the Brazilian President at La Moneda Palace, following a bilateral meeting and another extended meeting with ministers and government officials.

During the meeting, the two Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law, democratic principles and the protection and promotion of freedoms, among other things. They also signed a roadmap with 10 commitments between the two countries for the coming years.

President Bolsonaro was received with honors at the Plaza de la Constitución and upon his entrance to the Patio de los Cañones of La Moneda Palace.

"What we are looking to do with these agreements is to improve the quality of life for our peoples," President Piñera stated. He also noted the importance of the Free Trade Agreement between Chile and Brazil that was signed in November and is designed to strengthen and broaden relations between the countries.

President Piñera also emphasized the importance of President Bolsonaro's presence at the South American Presidents’ Summit, which was held on Friday at La Moneda Palace. They both signed the Santiago Declaration along with the Presidents and representatives of six other countries in the region, launching the creation of Prosur, a forum for dialogue and coordination to promote integration, development and progress throughout the region.

"Prosur is a space for dialogue, collaboration, agreements, understanding and integration, where all countries are welcome,” added President Piñera, who also highlighted renewed efforts to promote the Bioceanic Corridor with Brazil, which will connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Brazil is Chile's third largest trading partner, second only to China and the United States, and first in Latin America. In 2018, trade between the two countries exceeded US$10 billion. Brazil is also the main recipient of Chile's direct investment abroad.

The agreed commitments are as follows:

1. To reaffirm Chile’s and Brazil’s commitment to strengthen dialogue and develop closer ties between the Pacific Alliance and the South American trade bloc, MERCOSUR, especially after the meeting held in Puerto Vallarta in July 2018, which led to the signing of a Joint Declaration and Action Plan to bolster the integration between the two blocs. With this objective in mind, the Presidents highlighted the willingness of the two countries to strengthen their coordination when, next July, Chile takes on the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Pacific Alliance and Brazil the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR.

2. Chile and Brazil commit themselves to promoting better economic integration, in order to establish a new generation free trade area between MERCOSUR member states and Pacific Alliance member countries, commemorating the January 1, 2019 milestone of completing the liberalization schedule for the trade agreements signed by MERCOSUR with its member states.

3. To reaffirm Chile’s and Brazil’s commitment to implementing the Corridor that will link the center-west of Brazil with the ports of Northern Chile, passing through the bridge to be built between Porto Murtinho and Carmelo Peralta, through the Paraguayan Chaco and the Argentinean Northwest. The Presidents acknowledged the progress made in terms of its implementation and the benefits that this initiative will bring to the people, communities, cities, states, provinces and regions through which the Corridor passes. The Chilean President welcomed the decision made by Brazil and Paraguay to give priority to the construction of the bridge between Porto Murtinho and Carmelo Peralta, which is a crucial part of the Corridor project.

4. To reaffirm their commitment to contributing to the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, which requires holding free and fair presidential elections in accordance with international standards and under independent international observation, as well as the release of all political prisoners and an end to the systematic violations to human rights in that country. They also insisted on the need for Nicolás Maduro's regime to authorize the opening of a humanitarian aid channel to alleviate the country’s serious shortage of medicines and food.

5. To reaffirm the commitment to continue working within the framework of the Lima Group in search for a democratic and peaceful solution to the Venezuelan crisis, strongly rejecting any action involving the use of violence, especially the possibility of military intervention.

6. To affirm that they are cautiously optimistic about the reactivation of a broad, credible, transparent and representative national dialogue between the Nicaraguan government and civil society within the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy. To urge the government of Nicaragua to allow international human rights mechanisms to return to the country, including the OAS and the United Nations, and to provide them with the necessary guarantees to ensure that they can independently fulfill their respective mandates in the country.

7. To reaffirm the ideas expressed by six South American Presidents in their letter of April 18, 2018, regarding the current situation of the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, demonstrating their support for a new perspective on South American integration.

8. To reiterate Chile's support for Brazil's candidacy to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in line with the relevance of Brazil's income. The Presidents noted that Brazil and Chile agree on a wide range of issues under debate in the OECD, and that Brazil's entry would make a positive contribution to these discussions.

9. To express the commitment to sustainable development in their countries, in accordance with their respective legal frameworks, taking into account international frameworks, where appropriate.

10. Brazil acknowledges Chile's efforts in organizing the COP25 meeting on climate change. Both countries will pursue a dialogue based on their views on climate change and its related issues.