Singapore, Chile expand bilateral relations with education agreement
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 27 November 2008 1039 hrs

	Photos  of

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Chile have expanded their bilateral relations to include deeper people-to-people ties.

Leaders from the two countries inked an education agreement on Thursday, paving the way for the exchange of educators and students between both sides.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Santiago, Chile, was warmly received by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

The two leaders noted that Singapore and Chile are kindred spirits, as the two countries have much in common, sharing similar views on many issues.

In particular, both believe that promoting free trade, maintaining open markets and focusing on education are essential to economic growth and development.

Chile is one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and hopes to be a gateway for businesses into a region that is still relatively unfamiliar to many Asian companies.

Singapore and Chile have a history of trade links. Chile was the first country in South America that Singapore signed a free trade agreement with under the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement.

But despite the agreement, trade growth has been relatively modest, signalling perhaps that more can be done to enhance economic linkages.

"My intention (is) when we go to APEC next year, I will also go with a business delegation so we can also find out possibilities of investments or joint ventures," said Ms Bachelet.

Singapore will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in November next year.

Also accompanying Mr Lee to Chile on this trip is a delegation from the Singapore Business Federation, which hopes to explore possible areas of cooperation with Chile.

Beyond trade, both sides have also signed an agreement on education which is aimed at enhancing people-to-people links. Chile, for example, hopes to send its post-graduate students to Singapore universities.

"I hope that through this initiative, more Chileans will come, spend time in NUS (National University of Singapore), get to know Singapore and when they come back to Chile, work in Chile. They will be our ambassadors in their own country and they will help us to develop more substantive ties between the two countries," said Mr Lee.

And cultural exchange thereafter came in the form of what Singaporeans love best - food.

The first Singapore Food Festival in Chile was a gastronomic introduction to local cuisine and a welcomed treat for the few Singaporeans based in the country.

A 36-year-old Singaporean, David Lee, who runs a consultancy training business with his wife in Chile, said: "I'm homesick about food everyday. I've eaten more bread in the past five years I've been in Chile compared to the 30 years of my life! So tonight's dinner is definitely different!"

Mr Lee also visited the Centre for Mathematical Modelling at the Universidad de Chile. He will wrap up his trip to Latin America on Friday, when he is expected to address Chilean business leaders and opinion makers.

- CNA/yt