Chile-Portugal relations

Chile	Portugal

Chile–Portugal relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Chile and the Portuguese Republic. Both nations are members of the OECD, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.

The first European to sight Chilean territory was Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (in the service of Spain) in November 1520. On 1 August 1821 Portugal became the first country to recognize Chile's independence from Spain. ^[1] In 1879 both nations signed a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. ^[2]

In 1865, Chile opened a consulate in Lisbon. ^[3] In 1912, Portugal accredited an ambassador to Chile based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. ^[2] In 1918, Chile appointed an ambassador to Portugal based in Madrid, Spain. ^[3] In 1934, Portugal opened a resident diplomatic legation in Santiago. ^[2]

After the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, Portugal closed its embassy in Santiago, placing an honorary consul in his place in protest for the actions of the new Chilean government. As a reciprocal measure, the Chilean government under Augusto Pinochet closed its embassy in Lisbon and established an honorary consulate. ^[1] In 1988, Portugal announced the re-opening of an embassy in Santiago and Chile followed-suite with a re-opening of an embassy in Lisbon. ^[1]

In July 1992, Chilean President Patricio Aylwin paid an official visit to Portugal, becoming the first Chilean head-of-government to do so. In July 1993, Portuguese President Mario Soares paid an official visit to Chile, becoming the first Portuguese head-of-state to do so. ^[1] There would be several more high-level visits throughout the coming years.

Both nations consider themselves to be "like minded country" and work closely together in various international organizations to promote topics of mutual interests. ^[1] With regard to outstanding honorific names, the Praça do Chile is a square located in the Arroios district in Lisbon; while in Santiago, Portugal Avenue is an important thoroughfare in the city center, which begins at the intersection with the Alameda Avenue.

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High-level visits from Chile to Portugal

• President Patricio Aylwin (1992)
• President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (1998)
• President Ricardo Lagos (2001)
• Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley (2007)
• President Michelle Bachelet (2009)

High-level visits from Portugal to Chile

• President Mario Soares (1993)
• President Jorge Sampaio (1996, 2006)
• Prime Minister António Guterres (1996)
• President Aníbal Cavaco Silva (2007)
• Prime Minister José Sócrates (2007)
• Foreign Minister Luís Amado (2010)

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation (1879); Agreement on the Exchange of Diplomatic Bags (1949); Trade Agreement (1958); Agreement on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders (1970); Agreement on Reciprocal Exemption of Taxes on Maritime Freight (1982); Agreement that Authorizes the Remunerated Work of Relatives of the Diplomatic, Consular, Administrative and Technical Personnel from their Respective Embassies (1995); Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (1995); Social Security Agreement (1999); Agreement of Cooperation in Education, Science, Higher Education, Culture, Youth, Sports and Social Communication (2007); Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (2005); Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Energy Matters (2009); and a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a Mechanism for Political Consultations on Issues of Mutual Interests (2009). ^{[4] [2]}

• Chile has an embassy in Lisbon. ^[5]
• Portugal has an embassy in Santiago. ^[6]

• 
  Embassy of Chile in Lisbon
• 
  Building hosting the Embassy of Portugal in Santiago

• Foreign relations of Chile
• Foreign relations of Portugal