Couchepin makes first visit to Chile
Pascal Couchepin has become the first Swiss president to visit Chile in a trip that will include talks on improving ties in education and science.
Couchepin, who holds the interior ministry portfolio, will meet five Chilean ministers during his three-day trip and sign two bilateral agreements on exchange programmes for professional trainees and the awarding of scholarships.
Also on the agenda are the global financial crisis, the common goal of integrating into the work of G20 countries and scientific partnerships.
Switzerland sees Chile as a country with a strong development potential in science and technology and has made developing such ties a priority.
The trip follows the visit to Switzerland by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in 2007.
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