Manila and Santiago are forging stronger ties as the Philippines and Chile commemorate eight decades of official diplomatic relations, setting their sights on broader cooperation across trade, investment, maritime affairs, and tourism.
During an official visit to Santiago, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro paid a courtesy call on Chilean President José Antonio Kast Rist at the Palacio de La Moneda on Friday, August 14.
Lazaro conveyed warm greetings from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and reiterated the country’s intent to advance bilateral cooperation.
“Honored to meet with Chilean President José Antonio Kast and extend the warmest greetings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” Lazaro shared in a social media update.
“I reiterated our commitment to deepening PH-Chile ties, now that we are close to finalizing our bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), during the milestone 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations,” she added.
During their discussion, Lazaro and Kast highlighted the potential benefits of the newly negotiated PH-Chile CEPA, which concluded in July, aiming to significantly boost bilateral trade and investment between the two Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members.
“The Pacific Ocean does not separate us, it links our destinies,” Lazaro said, underscoring Manila’s goal to widen collaborative efforts while extending an invitation for President Kast to visit the Philippines.
Lazaro also held bilateral discussions with Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following their prior meeting in Manila during the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in July 2026. Their talks covered economic cooperation, trade, investment, and maritime and consular matters.
“Commemorating 80 years of PH-CL diplomatic ties, we welcome the imminent signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the Philippines’ first bilateral trade agreement in Latin America,” Lazaro remarked, describing the exchange as “productive talks.”
Further solidifying ties, both nations signed a new bilateral pact aimed at driving travel and economic exchanges.
“I also signed an agreement on tourism cooperation showing our ever-expanding partnership with Chile,” Lazaro noted, pointing out that the memorandum of understanding will foster joint initiatives between tourism agencies and boost people-to-people connections.
Reflecting on the milestone visit, Lazaro stated that the trip “reaffirms our shared commitment to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our two Pacific-facing nations,” noting that the concluded CEPA will “leave the gates wide open for immense trade and investment opportunities, making our two countries more interconnected and interdependent than ever before.”
The Philippines and Chile established formal diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946. Today, around 1,017 Filipinos reside in the South American country.