Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font at Hyderabad House on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the Chilean leader’s five-day state visit to India. The two leaders held discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral relations across various sectors, including economic, commercial, and societal domains.
The discussions focused on strengthening India-Chile ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation, as both nations seek to build stronger diplomatic and economic partnerships.
Later in the day, President Boric is scheduled to meet with President Droupadi Murmu. A special banquet will be hosted in Boric’s honor following their talks.
Earlier, President Boric paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, reflecting on the significance of the visit. He posted on X, “Together with our delegation of ministers and parliamentarians, we paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, the memorial erected in his honour in New Delhi. His legacy reminds us that with India, we not only share common interests and a future of great opportunities for our people, but also shared fundamental values.”
President Boric, who arrived in New Delhi earlier in the day, was warmly received by Union Minister of State (MoS) Pabitra Margherita and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon landing at the airport. The Chilean leader expressed optimism about the visit, sharing his thoughts on X: “6:30 a.m. in New Delhi, and from here we begin this State Visit to India, a momentous occasion for strengthening and diversifying our economic, political, and cultural relations at a time when multilateral cooperation is more necessary than ever.”
Boric also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations, noting, “We are talking about the fifth-largest economy and the most populous country on the planet, with whom we share common ground and opportunities for growth in key areas such as agribusiness, innovation, and the creative industries.”
In his post on X, Boric highlighted the diverse delegation accompanying him, which includes government officials, business leaders, members of the National Congress, and experts in fields such as innovation, culture, and education. “We’re here to strengthen and deepen our ties, and that’s why I’m joined by government officials, the National Congress, business leaders, leaders in the fields of innovation and culture, distinguished professors, and students. A busy schedule. I’ll keep you posted!” he said.
Before his meeting with PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also called on President Boric. The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen long-standing bilateral ties. Jaishankar later shared his thoughts on X, saying, “Pleased to call on President Gabriel Boric of Chile at the start of his state visit to India. Appreciate his commitment for deepening our long-standing cooperation. Confident that his talks with PM Narendra Modi today will foster new partnerships and greater engagement.”
As part of his visit, President Boric will travel to Mumbai and Bengaluru, where he will engage with political figures, industry leaders, startup entrepreneurs, and technology innovators. These discussions aim to foster collaborations in key sectors between the two nations.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that this state visit is an important opportunity for both India and Chile to review their bilateral relations and deliberate on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
“India-Chile relations have traditionally been characterised by warmth, friendship, and a commonality of views on a wide range of issues. Both countries cooperate extensively in multilateral forums and share similar views on climate change, renewable energy, and on the expansion and reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),” the MEA said.
