AS/COA honored Chilean President Michelle Bachelet with the Americas Society's Gold Insigne for Chile's economic and social achievements under her watch. “Chile is in a position to become a developed economy over the course of one generation and it is determined to do so," said the president during remarks.
Chile
While some journalists reporting in Latin America face threats to personal security, others deal with official intimidation in what some warn could roll back hard-won press freedoms. But governments and journalists have also taken steps to ensure greater access to information.
With elections in December, the next president of Chile will, like counterparts across the region, face challenges to ensure the country’s continued socioeconomic prosperity. Santiago looks to renewable energy, liquid natural gas, and potentially nuclear power to satisfy its energy needs.
During the week of the United Nations General Assembly, Americas Society and Council of the Americas hosted private and public programs with the presidents of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
The H1N1 virus has cropped up across the Western Hemisphere. As North America prepares for flu season, lessons learned during the Southern Cone's winter provide insight to H1N1 response.
Speaking at the 2009 Latin American Cities Conference in Santiago, Canadian Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty emphasized the importance of inter-American cooperation for economic recovery and said that the success of Ottowa's free trade agreement with Chile demonstrates Canada's increasing ties with the region.
In her Introductory remarks at the annual Santiago de Chile Conference, AS/COA's Susan Segal said that in the face of the global economic downturn, Chile's successes provide a strong example of the importance of free trade. (en espanol)