Joint Statement by the United States and Chile

Education is fundamental to economic and social progress and plays an important role in promoting mutual understanding. Therefore, we have decided to pursue initiatives to increase and enhance educational exchanges and cooperation between institutions of higher learning in Chile and the United States. We will encourage representatives of universities and academic associations in both countries to work together to develop joint research projects, post-graduate programs, and exchanges of students and scholars, among other bilateral academic activities.

Open markets are another critical element for economic progress and the alleviation of poverty. We are extremely pleased that since our free trade agreement took effect on January 1, 2004, total U.S.-Chile trade has increased more than 150 percent. Chile and the United States share an interest in the implementation of additional free trade agreements in our Hemisphere.

Our cooperation on security matters will deepen as a result of the Government of Chile's decision last month to join the United States and over 80 other countries in endorsing the Proliferation Security Initiative and its statement of interdiction principles. Our joint endorsement of these principles demonstrates our commitment to prevent terrorists and dangerous regimes from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials.

The United States and Chile reiterate our common commitment to implementation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter as an instrument to ensure democratic governance and sustainability throughout the Hemisphere as well as our commitment to the initiatives being undertaken within the framework of the Community of Democracies.

Our cooperation in Haiti is a salient example of our commitment to democracy and stability in the region. Chile's contingent of peacekeepers together with U.S. civilian police officers and over $600 million to the re-building of Haiti from 2004 through 2006 are tangible demonstrations of that commitment.

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