PM Modi receives invitation to visit Antarctica from Chilean President Gabriel Boric

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received an invitation to visit Antarctica from Chilean President Gabriel Boric, even as India and the South American nation signed a pact for cooperation in the polar region.

“We see Chile as the gateway to Antarctica. We welcome today's agreement to strengthen cooperation in this vital region,” Modi said after hosting Boric at a meeting in the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Chile, the southernmost country in the world, is the closest to Antarctica. Boric himself visited Antarctica last year. Modi asked him during the meeting in New Delhi to share his experiences of travel in Antarctica.

“He (Boric) explained in some detail his experience of traveling to Antarctica. As part of that, he said, it would be nice if the prime minister could also visit Chile sometime and undertake a visit to Antarctica,” P Kumaran, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs, told journalists after the meeting between the two leaders.

Modi thanked Boric for the invitation.

The Letter of Intent to strengthen existing cooperation on Antarctica will further facilitate partnership in the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources agendas, bilateral dialogues, joint initiatives and academic exchanges related to Antarctica and Antarctic policy.

Both India and Chile are Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty and reaffirmed their commitment to deepen scientific understanding of Antarctica for the benefit of both parties and the global community.

India and Chile on Tuesday also announced the start of negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership pact.

The two leaders recognised the strategic importance of critical minerals for emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy transitions.

They agreed to accelerate collaboration in exploration, mining and processing, along with research and development to promote investment across the entire critical mineral value chain for mutual benefit. They stressed the need for building trusted and resilient supply chains, including for critical minerals and advanced materials.

The two sides agreed to work together on initiatives to strengthen supply chains and local value chains by fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and understandings in mining and minerals, including the possibility of a long-term supply of minerals and materials from Chile to India.