Since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation in the early 90s, three presidents of the Republic of Chile have visited Moscow: Patricio Aylwin, in 1993, Ricardo Lagos, in 2005, and Michelle Bachelet, in 2008. In addition, President Sebastián Piñera visited the city of Vladivostok in 2012 in the framework of an APEC summit. On the other side, President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, visited Santiago in 2004.
The ambassadors who have served at the Embassy of Chile to the Russian Federation have been the following:
Among the main bilateral mechanisms in force are the Political Consultations at the level of Vice-ministers of Foreign Affairs, and the Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, which are expected to be convened on an annual basis, alternately in Chile and in the Russian Federation.
Chile and Russia maintain a good bilateral relationship, characterized by a cordial and frank political dialogue on all the issues on the agenda. This good level of linkage is reflected in the holding of political consultations and joint commissions, the negotiation of agreements in various fields, cooperation in science and technology, energy, Antarctic affairs, astronomy, the densification of business ties, cultural and academic contacts, as well as collaboration in different multilateral bodies.
Some milestones of the bilateral relationship in recent years are the following:
The main objective of the economic-commercial link with Russia is to negotiate, in the medium term, the signing of a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a customs union led by Moscow, which also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. To this aim, our country has developed a permanent activity for several years to inform and persuade the Russian counterpart and the other countries of the EEU of the advantages that the signing of an agreement of this type would have for both sides.