By Xinhua,
Santiago : Chile and India on Monday signed agreements on bilateral cooperation in various fields, local media reported.
The agreements were signed at the La Moneda government palace after visiting Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil met with her Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet.
According to the agreements, the two countries pledged to deepen cooperation in the fields of science and technology, visits and exchanges of experts as well as the training of employees.
Chile has signed a large number of trade agreements and many of its businesses are seeking strategic partners to form new alliances in Asia and the rest of the world, Bachelet said.
“Chile is ready for this new step, to move forward, for example, to the signing of a free trade agreement between both countries, that serves as the foundation to give incentive to new opportunities for business,” Bachelet said.
The agreements signed also include scientific cooperation, sports and aerial service collaboration as well as the facilitation of bilateral communications.
Chilean exports to India increased by 40 percent during the past year, becoming India’s second-largest Latin American trading partner.
Patil is on a three-day official visit to Chile. She is the second Indian president to visit this South American country.