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Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday received Chilean Chamber of Deputies President Ricardo Cifuentes Lillo as part of regular parliamentary cooperation aimed at maintaining the "excellent" bilateral relations and further boosting economic and cultural cooperation.
Cifuentes Lillo is on an official visit to Croatia. This is the second visit by a president of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies in two and a half years after Diego Paulsen Kehr arrived in September 2021.
A more frequent parliamentary interaction, including the cooperation of the friendship groups and some parliamentary committees, is an important aspect of the comprehensive advancement of the relations between the two states, Jandroković said, adding that the relations are excellent and friendly, with which Cifuentes Lillo agreed.
The numerous Croatian emigrants and their descendants in Chile have created the strongest bridge between the two countries, Jandroković said.
It is estimated that Chile has a Croatian population of 200,000. Cifuentes Lillo said twice as many Chileans were connected to Croatia in various ways.
Throughout history, many Chileans of Croatian descent contributed considerably to the development of Chile's society and economy, the two officials said. Chile's incumbent President Gabriel Boric Font and several members of parliament have Croatian origins.
The two officials also discussed economic relations, expressing a desire to see them advance through joint efforts.
As promising areas of cooperation, Jandroković mentioned defence, IT, the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and tourism. He said he was pleased with the increase in the number of Chilean tourists in Croatia last year.
Jandroković also underlined the importance Croatia attached to Croatian language and literary departments abroad.
In Chile, one operates at University of Magallanes in Punta Arenas and as of this year, the University of Chile in Santiago will also have one, both supported by the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education.
The talks also underlined the importance of intensifying cultural cooperation.
Jandroković said Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman would visit Chile next month, when Croatia will open its third consulate, with an honorary consul in Punta Arenas.