National Day of Chile
I have the honour, on behalf of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to extend congratulations to the government and people of the Republic of Chile on the occasion of the 209th anniversary of its Independence.
The 18th of September – or “dieciocho” – is observed during a week of “patriotic parties” – fiestas patrias – a time for all Chileans to congregate to celebrate their culture, their country and their independence.
Chileans embarked on the road to independence from Spain on 18th September 1810 – which accounts for 2019 being calculated as the 209th anniversary – although full freedom was finally proclaimed only in 1818, eight years later.
Guyana and Chile have enjoyed excellent relations since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties on 22nd July 1971. Relations between our two states have fostered cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, language-training, geochemical and geological mapping, immigration, port security and transportation.
Guyana looks forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Chile, especially in the mining and petroleum sectors, disaster management and environmental protection.
The Statement of Intent on Cooperation in Energy and Mining and the Memorandum of Understanding between the “Andres Bello” Diplomatic Academy of Chile and the Foreign Service Institute of Guyana which were signed in Montego Bay on 6th July 2018 manifest our common commitment to deepening and widening cooperation for our mutual benefit.
I was honoured, personally, to pay a State Visit to Chile in October 2016. I remarked, then, on the symbolism of the President of one of the smallest and northern-most countries meeting the President of one of the larger and southernmost countries on the South American continent. Guyana, like Chile, is a continental country and we share common concerns about what occurs in South America.
The raging wildfires in the Amazon and the devastating effects of hurricanes in the Caribbean highlight the urgent need for intensified continental cooperation on environmental catastrophe.
Relations between Guyana and Chile have been strengthened by high-level exchanges between our respective Presidents:
– 19th Summit of the Rio Group Summit was held in Georgetown, in March 2007;
– 23rd Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community was held in Paramaribo, Suriname, in March 2012;
– 1st Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held in Santiago, Chile, in January 2013;
– My State Visit to Chile in October 2016; and
– 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in July 2018.
I congratulate the Government of Chile on its hosting of the 25th Session of the Conference of Parties of the COP [Conference of Parties] 25 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Santiago in December 2019.
Guyana has accepted the invitation to participate at this ‘Conference, the objectives of which are in accord with those of the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040.
I invite you to join me in a toast to the health of His Excellency Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique, President of the Republic of Chile and to the continued strong relations and friendship between our South American states.
I thank you.
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