Santiago, April 24 (QNA) - The foreign ministers of Chile and Bolivia met today at the border between the two countries to discuss restoring diplomatic relations that have been severed since 1975.
Foreign Minister of Bolivia Fernando Aramayo told reporters that the meeting represented a key milestone on the path to reestablishing relations between the two countries.
The two nations have not maintained diplomatic relations for more than fifty years, following the failure of negotiations to restore Bolivia's access to the sea, which it lost during a war between the two countries in the late nineteenth century.
For his part, Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna announced progress on a free trade agreement. He added that there were also issues related to border security and organized crime, but the main focus was on the future.
Combating irregular migration along the border with Bolivia is considered one of Chile's priorities in its bilateral relations. (QNA)