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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Bolivian and Chilean Legislators Discuss Migration, Security and Trade in La Paz

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency New plan
  • Bolivian and Chilean lawmakers met in La Paz to discuss migration, security and trade.
  • They addressed issues including Bolivian workers in Chile, detained Bolivian women, child registration, stolen vehicles and transit through Chilean ports.
  • Chilean lawmakers invited their Bolivian counterparts to continue discussions at a future meeting in Santiago, despite the countries’ unresolved diplomatic tensions.

Bolivian and Chilean lawmakers met in La Paz with an agenda that both sides presented as an opportunity to convert shared problems into cooperation. Migration, security and trade dominated the discussions, with the delegations examining issues that affect people and commerce across their border.

The Bolivian delegation was led by Senate President Diego Ávila. Chile sent Manuel Ossandón, president of its Foreign Relations Commission, Senate Vice President Iván Moreira, and lawmakers representing Arica and Parinacota and Ñuble.

The meeting covered the employment situation of Bolivians in Chile, the circumstances of Bolivian women imprisoned for minor offenses, and the registration of children in official records. On security, the lawmakers discussed vehicles stolen in Chile and later offered for sale in Bolivia, as well as the movement of Bolivian products through Chilean ports.

Opportunities for cooperation and well-being for both peoples.

· Diego ÁvilaThe Bolivian Senate president described the potential outcome of addressing shared problems.

The stolen-vehicle issue has become particularly contentious as Bolivia considers legislation to regularize undocumented cars, known locally as “chutos.” Criminal organizations have been accused of stealing vehicles in Chile and moving them clandestinely into Bolivia, where they are sold. Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz has said he wants a new cycle with Chile focused largely on economic and commercial issues, while maintaining his country’s maritime claim.

Ávila called the talks an important point for both countries and said they could create “opportunities for cooperation and well-being for both peoples.” Moreira said conditions were in place for the two countries to face the future together. Chile’s delegation invited Bolivia to a follow-up meeting in Santiago. The countries have lacked ambassador-level diplomatic relations since 1962, apart from a brief period from 1975 to 1978, because of Bolivia’s long-standing maritime claim.

All the conditions are currently in place for Chile and Bolivia to face the future.

· Iván MoreiraThe Chilean Senate vice president expressed support for continued bilateral engagement.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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