Malacañan Palace
16 November 2015
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Chilean President Michelle Bachelet at the Malacañan Palace, on her four-day State Visit to the Philippines.
In an expanded bilateral meeting, the two leaders talked about tourism, education, mining, agriculture, and geothermal energy. During their joint press statement, President Aquino and President Bachelet acknowledged that the ties between the Philippines and Chile still have great potential for growth.
Both leaders also witnessed a signing of agreements. The first document was a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on disaster risk reduction, signed by National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Heraldo Muñoz.
The second document was a letter of intent on a joint study for free trade agreement between the Philippines and Chile. It was signed by Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory Domingo and Minister Muñoz.
This is the first visit of President Bachelet to the country since assuming office in 2006 and in 2014.
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