On the 19 of February the Macquarie University and the Aconcagua University signed an MOU on Cooperation. The main purpose of the Agreement is to exchange faculty members, specialy in the language departments, to have join research projects and language and culturral joint programs.
Click here for further information
NOVEMBER 2007
IMAGES OF CHILEAN REGIONS
On Thursday the 29th of November the Embassy of Chile together with the Commercial Office launched at the Australian Museum in Sydney, “Images of Chilean Regions”
This event consisted of sampling Chilean Wines and a savouring of its gastronomy. With over 250 visitors on the terrace of the Australian Museum, a presentation with audio and visual was performed in relation to the diverse regions in Chile together with expositions from the Head of Events and Fairs from Tourism Chile, Mr. Mauricio Vergara and the Director of The Commercial Office in Sydney, Mr. Marcelo Salas. The event was complemented with dances and music from the Folkloric Group “Tierra Lejana”.
To mark this event, the Ambassador of Chile in Australia, gave a welcome to all and completed with a presentation referring to the state of political and bilateral economic relations and the projections that they will have with the future subscription of a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.
WORDS OF THE AMBASSADOR OF CHILE JOSE LUIS BALMACEDA
FOLKLORIC GROUP "TIERRA LEJANA"
PUBLIC AT THE EVENT
CHILEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN MELBOURNE
CLICK HERE: Folleto 1
SEPTEMBER 2007
CELEBRATION OF THE CHILEAN NATIONAL DAY AT THE COBRELOA CLUB OF SYDNEY WITH THE AMBASSADOR JOSE LUIS BALMACEDA
THE AMBASSADOR JOSE LUIS BALMACEDA WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COBRELOA CLUB AND THE GENERAL CONSUL OF CHILE IN SYDNEY EDUARDO RUIZ
CELEBRATION OF THE CHILEAN NATIONAL DAY IN CANBERRA AT THE EMBASSY OF CHILE
The Ambassador Jose Luis Balmaceda addressing the Chilean community
The raising of the Chilean flag
AUGUST 2007
FIRST CHILEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN CANBERRA
The 8 of August the Ambassador of Chile Jose Luis Balmaceda inaugurated the first Chilean Film Festival in Canberra. This event started with the presentation of the movie “La Fiebre del Loco” of Andres Wood. The next production will be “Time’s Up” of Cecilia Barriga presented the 15 of August.
During the inauguration, with the presence of the Vice Chancellor of the University Stephen Parker and Trish Milne, Director of the Language School, the Ambassador said, "
Today it is Chilean film-making that allows us to have a dialogue with Australia. Like us, it shares the characteristics of a new and southern country. Chile has a few names renown in Europe such as Film makers Raul Ruiz, Patricio Guzman and Miguel Littin. However, the venture of the Cycle we are opening today is to show some of the new talents of Chilean film-making."
This Festival forms part of a wider proyect that intends to present Chilean Films in the major cities of Australia. The first event took place in Sydney last June.
This festival in Canberra was organized together with the School of Languages and International Studies of the Canberra University.
For further information of the program CLICK
JULY 2007
MEDIA RELEASE OF MINISTER FOR TRADE
DFAT07/068WT 18 July 2007
FTA With Chile Will Create Trade Opportunities
The Australian Government has decided to proceed with free trade agreement negotiations with Chile, the Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, said today.
These negotiations offer an excellent opportunity to develop a comprehensive and ambitious bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) which would eliminate barriers to trade in goods, improve conditions for services exports and investment, and offer meaningful commercial opportunities for Australian exporters.
The Government’s decision comes after consultations with Australian industry, states and territories and federal agencies, and bilateral officials’ meetings.
Mr Truss said Chile is Australia’s third largest trading partner in Latin America, with two-way trade in goods and services valued at $A574 million in 2006.
Australian companies have significant investments in Chile, estimated at US$2.78 billion. That investment figure is expected to grow further under an FTA.
Mr Truss said he was conscious of the sensitivities of some sections of the horticulture and salmon industries about an FTA with Chile. However, tariffs on these lines are already low – generally zero. Australia will not be trading off our science-based quarantine system in either this or any other FTA, he said.
“Proceeding to FTA negotiations is a new step towards a broader strategic relationship with Chile and Australia’s relations with Latin America in general. A high quality agreement would also support Australia’s efforts to promote global trade reform and greater trade liberalisation in the Asia Pacific region.”
Mr Truss said Australia’s top priority remains a positive outcome for the Doha Round of world trade talks, but he was also committed to securing new trade and investment opportunities for Australian businesses through the successful conclusion of bilateral FTA negotiations.
JUNE 2007
ON THE 30TH JUNE, WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE MAYOR OF ROCKDALE MR BILL SARAVINOVSKI, WAS INAUGURATED THE CHILEAN FILM FESTIVAL ORGANISED BY THE EMBASSY OF CHILE AND THE ROCKARI ASSOCIATION.
The festival initiated its program with “Mi Mejor Enemigo” from Alex Bowen. Other films that screened during the weekend from 30th June to 1st July were “Cachimba”, “La Ultima Luna” and “Sub Terra”.
More than 800 Chilean and Australians turned out for this special event.
VISIT OF THE NAVY TRAINING TALL SHIP “ESMERALDA”
From Saturday 16th of June until Thursday 21st the “Esmeralda”, the Chilean navy training ship, paid an official visit to Sydney. At its arrival it had a warm welcome from the Chilean community with a presentation of the traditional Chilean dance “cueca” by two folkloric dance groups.
Among the official activities organized by the Embassy there was a reception on the 16th of June. This event was attended by more than 350 guests from the political, economic, academic, media areas and the Chilean Community in Australia.
A Mass was held on board on Tuesday 17th, followed by a reception for the Chilean community resident in Sydney, giving rise to the opportunity of getting together with the Ship’s crew. On this occasion, more than 200 Chilean residents participated in this event.
On Tuesday 19th a representative group of officers and navy cadets travelled to Canberra, where they laid a floral wreath at the War Memorial. Later they had lunch with high officials of the Australian Navy at the Ambassador’s residence.
On Wednesday 20 June, the Ambassador’s wife offered a lunch to Mrs Marlena Jeffery and Mrs Nicki Downer, wives of the General Governor and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia respectively. The same day, the Ambassador of Chile, José Luis Balmaceda, offered a dinner on board of the Esmeralda to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, and attended by important members of the political, economic and academic areas of Australia.
Welcoming of the Esmeralda at Sydney
Ambassador Jose Luis Balmaceda with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer and the Captain of the Esmeralda.
May 2007
MAY 21 IN CANBERRA
A ceremony hosted by the Ambasador of Chile in Australia, Mr. Jose Luis Balmaceda, was held for the occasion of the 189 anniversary of the Iquique Naval Combat, the 21 of May.
During that ceremony a medal for 20 years of service was given to Sargeant 2º Cristian Olivares Silva of the Chilean Navy. This medal was presented by the Ambasador of Chile.
THE CHILEAN DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY
The International Course in Diplomacy, “Andres Bello”, published on www.minrel.gov.cl (Link Academia Diplomatica), the information on the application process. After two years of different courses at the Diplomatic Academy the students are qualified to become Chilean Diplomats.
We invite all Chileans living in Chile or abroad to participate in this application.
April 2007
THE AMBASSADOR OF CHILE, JOSE LUIS BALMACEDA, OFICIAL VISIT TO NEW SOUTH WALES
On 23 and 24 of April the Ambassador of Chile in Australia, José Luis Balmaceda, made an official visit to New South Wales. This State is one of the most dynamic economies in the country. Its capital, Sydney, is one of the most important financial, trade and academic centers of the region.
The Ambassador visited Sydney University, founded on 1850 and has over 45 thousand students. During his visit, the Ambassador held meetings with the Vice Chancellor and professors that will travel to Chile on October.
The Ambassador also had a working lunch at Western Australia University with the Vice Chancellor Janice Reid. During the lunch they discussed some bilateral projects and scholarships that the Western University has with Chile, especially with CONICYT.
Ambassador Balmaceda held a meeting with the Executive Director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Patricia Forsythe. This Chamber together with the New South Wales Chamber represents more than 30 thousand businesses of NSW.
During his visit, the Ambassador attended reunions with the Executive Director of the Department of State and Regional Development of NSW, Mrs Adriane Wood, and with the Executive Director of the Business Council of Australia, Mrs Katia Lahey.
Finally, the Treasury Minister of NSW offered a lunch in honur of the Ambassador of Chile, an opportunity where they discussed about bilateral relations and the posibilities to increase them.
Febrero 2007
CLOSE OF THE SECOND ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR A DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHILE AND AUSTRALIA
The second round of negotiations for a Double Taxation Agreement between Chile and Australia concluded on 15 February 2007. The members of the Chilean Delegation were from the International Division of the Chilean Department of Taxation (SII), Ms Liselott Kana (Head), Soledad Salman and Patricio Barahona. The Australian Delegation members were Aariane Pickering (Head), Stephen Knipler, Michael Atfield and Martin Pook.
The third round of negotiations will be held in Santiago at a date yet to be determined.
June 2006
On June 23 the newly arrived Ambassador of Chile to Australia, HE Jose Luis Balmnceda, presented his Credentials to the Governor General of Australia, Major General Michael Jeffery, on a ceremony which took place at the Government House, in Yarralumla (Canberra). On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
was present DFAT's Deputy Secretary, Ms. Gillian Bird.
On the occasion, the Chilean Foreign Officer was accompanied by his wife, Ms Loreto Balmaceda, and the Embassy`s officers, Counsellor Patricio Becker, Colonel (Army) Eugenio de la Cerda and Second Secretary Javier Matta.
Ambassador Balmaceda is the 12th Chilean Ambassador to Australia since diplomatic relationship between both countries were established in 1945.
May 2006
AUSTRALIA GRANTED ITS AGRÉMENT TO JOSE LUIS BALMACEDA AS NEW AMBASSADOR OF CHILE
On May 22 a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile informed that the Government of Australia granted its agrément for the appointment of Jose Luis Balmaceda as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Chile.
Ambassador Balmaceda, married to Loreto Errazuriz with two children, is graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Chile, with studies of International Public Law and Postgraduate in International Law and International Relations in the University of Heidelberg and in the Institute Max Plank, in Germany.
During his professional career he held several positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Department of Agreements and Treaties (1974-1975); Direction of North and Central America (1975) and in the Direction of South America (1988-1989). Also, he fulfilled functions in the Embassies of Chile in the Federal Republic of Germany (1977-1980), Peru (1983-1987), United Kingdom (1990-1994), Austria (1997-2000) and Spain (2000). Later, he was Ambassador of Chile in Norway (2000 - 2004).
Between 1995 and 1997 he was appointed as Chief of Cabinet of the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs.
At present Ambassador Balmaceda is Director of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
