At the invitation of H.E. Alberto van Klaveren, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile, Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat delegation for a Working Visit to the Republic of Chile, on 3-6 September 2024. The Working Visit will be a new milestone in the relationship between ASEAN and Chile, as it will be the first time that a Secretary-General of ASEAN officially visits a Latin American country.

During the Working Visit, SG Dr. Kao will engage with a wide range of government officials and key stakeholders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Economy, the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations, and the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), among others. SG Dr. Kao will also take this rare opportunity to partake in the Commemoration of the Fifth Anniversary of the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership and ASEAN Day, a roundtable meeting with the Federation of Chilean Industry (SOFOFA), as well as to deliver a lecture at the University of Chile and a keynote speech at a seminar at the ECLAC. SG Dr. Kao is also scheduled to meet with the ASEAN Committee in Santiago, where he would brief the Committee on the latest development on the work of ASEAN and discuss the current state and future direction of ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership, as well as exchange views on the Committee’s role in advancing, strengthening and deepening ASEAN-Chile relations.

The Inaugural Working Visit of the Secretary-General of ASEAN to Chile this time will be a momentous opportunity to promote the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership, namely enhancing and broadening dialogue and cooperation as well as promoting ties between ASEAN and Chile, particularly as this year marks the 5th Anniversary of ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership.