Energetic Diplomacy

Bachelet's first international tours focussed on Chile's Southern Cone contemporaries - many of which are important trading partners. Bachelet chose Argentina as her first port of call. Certainly meetings with President Néstor Kirchner appear to have secured direct benefits for Chile, over and above the usual platitudes and diplomatic backslapping associated with such visits. Relations were described by both sides as 'excellent' and Bachelet highlighted the need to strengthen a 'strategic alliance' through a four-year plan addressing co-operation across fields as diverse as education, health, tourism, mining and energy. The last category is the most significant, as it has been

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