Chile's Kast makes first presidential state visit to Bolivia in 71 years
Chile's president, José Antonio Kast, went to Bolivia on Friday on the first state visit by a Chilean leader in 71 years. He and Bolivia's leader, Rodrigo Paz, signed deals on trade, energy, mining and a fiber link, La Tercera and Infobae said. Kast said the two sides would work step by step toward fully normal ties.
Chilean President José Antonio Kast made a state visit to La Paz on Friday, the first by a Chilean president in 71 years, La Tercera, Infobae and El Deber reported.
Kast and Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz signed five documents, the two papers reported. El Deber described them as two joint declarations and three agreements signed by ministers.
One sets terms to modernize the two countries' trade pact, known as ACE 22, which La Tercera said dates to 1993. El Deber said the update would come in two phases. Another backs studies on a fiber-optic land corridor. La Tercera said it would run from Arica, Chile, through Visviri to Bolivia and give Bolivia access to undersea cables in the Pacific. A mining deal covers exploration, information sharing and investment, and a joint declaration covers energy, including a possible power link, the reports said.
In a 10-minute speech after the signing, Kast said the two countries would stop turning their backs on each other, La Tercera reported. He said there were historic differences between them but that those differences could not be an excuse to stand still. He said a joint political talks group would work step by step toward fully normal relations and restoring ties to the highest diplomatic level, according to La Tercera.
Kast also said he had invited Paz to make a state visit to Chile in 2027 and that Paz accepted, La Tercera and Infobae reported. In his own speech, Paz said Bolivia's claim to the sea remains in its constitution but that history cannot hold back its development, Infobae reported.
Paz said on social media that the visit opens a new stage of dialogue and opportunity for both countries, El Deber reported. He called it a visit that marks a before and an after, with frank dialogue and mutual respect, according to El Deber.
The La Tercera, Infobae and El Deber reports were in Spanish and were translated by NewsHabit.
What we know: Kast and Paz signed five documents on trade, energy, mining and fiber optics during the first Chilean state visit to Bolivia in 71 years.
What we don't: When the two countries will restore ties at the highest diplomatic level.
Where outlets agree La Tercera and Infobae report that Kast's Friday visit to La Paz was the first by a Chilean president in 71 years and that the two leaders signed agreements on trade, energy, mining and fiber optics.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.