Chile and NZ Sign Agreement on Science

President Sebastián Piñera of Chile has signed a new trade agreement with the visiting Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, writes Elizabeth Trovall of The Santiago Times. The agreement promises shared innovation in science, energy and agricultural research. The two leaders also agreed upon education exchanges, sharing climate change research and further agreements in commerce. ‘We have many things in common to build on together,’ said President Piñera at the signing, listing agriculture, clean and geothermal energy as well as education.  The two leaders discussed the on-going Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations, and continued collaboration in the Global Research Alliance, and in other environmental initiatives including the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation, whale conservation and cooperation on Antarctic issues. President Piñera also told Prime Minister Key he saw New Zealand as a ‘giant’ in agriculture and praised New Zealand’s ‘tremendous leadership’ in clean energy. Nathan Guy, New Zealand’s Minister of Agriculture, and Luis Mayol, his Chilean counterpart, signed an agreement on agricultural research collaboration and agricultural trade and investment promotion. Chile also said it will increase to 100 the number of high-school students it has studying in New Zealand. Prime Minister Key welcomed the increase, saying it ‘was terrific that young Chilean’s have the chance to gain from New Zealand’s world-class education system.’