King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway have accepted the invitation of the President of the Republic of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, to visit the nation on an official state visit. The visit is planned to run from 26th to 31st March. Last year the royals made a state visit to Argentina – now neighbour Chile will welcome the King and Queen in just a few weeks.
The visit marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Norway and Chile. The Norwegian royals will be accompanied by Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide and Norway’s Minister of Fisheries Harald Tom Nesvik.
King Harald and Queen Sonja in Argentina last year. Photo: Casa Rosada / The Pressident of Argentina`s Office.
The state visit will begin in the capital Santiago de Chile. The official programme includes a welcome ceremony in the Presidential Palace, “Palacio de La Moneda”, as well as talks and dinner with President Piñera. The royal couple will also meet with the leaders of the congress, the Supreme Court and the city’s mayor.
Chile is the second most important market for Norwegian companies in South America, and a business delegation will accompany the royal couple. King Harald will speak at the opening of a Norwegian-Chilean business event, which will have particular focus on aquaculture, renewable energy and smart cities. The main theme of the seminar will be sustainable solutions for the development of the business community of the future.
King Harald and Queen Sonja. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.
Santiago de Chile also plans to mark the Kon-Tiki Museum’s initiative on the return of archaeological objects and photographs to Easter Island. The programme in the capital ends with an event focused on Norwegian and Chilean culture.
Marine cooperation and Antarctica are other key themes in Norwegian-Chilean relations. Chile and Norway share a maritime border between the Chilean Antarctic Territory and the Norwegian territory of Peter I Island. The royal couple will continue their visit to Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams, located in Chile’s southernmost part, Patagonia. Here, common interests within research, resource management, climate issues and business activities will be highlighted.
Royal Central will keep you closely updated on the state visit.
