Visit to Chile and Uruguay

Topic: Report

16 July 2016

Federal President Joachim Gauck and Daniela Schadt made state visits to the Republic of Chile and to the Eastern Republic of Uruguay from 11 to 17 July. During his visit to Chile from 11 to 14 July, the Federal President held political talks and met representatives of Chilean civil society. During his visit to Uruguay from 14 to 16 July, the Federal President held political talks in Montevideo before visiting a German company and a training project.

Federal President Joachim Gauck und Daniela Schadt at the House of Parliament on the occassion of the State visit to the Eastern Republic of Uruguay

Federal President Joachim Gauck and Daniela Schadt made state visits to the Republic of Chile and to the Eastern Republic of Uruguay from 11 to 17 July.

During his visit to Chile from 11 to 14 July, the Federal President held political talks in Santiago, including talks with the President and with members of parliament, the government and the judiciary. Along with the Chilean President, he opened a German-Chilean Forum organised by the German political foundations. During his visit to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, the Federal President met representatives of Chilean civil society. In addition to bilateral, foreign policy and EU topics, the agenda of the talks in the Chilean capital focussed on the current challenges facing democracy in Chile.

During his visit to Uruguay from 14 to 16 July, the Federal President held political talks in Montevideo before visiting a German company and a training project. He also opened an exhibition on 160 years of German-Uruguayan relations and took part in a discussion on young people’s social inclusion in Uruguay.

The Federal President was accompanied by representatives of the cultural sphere, academia, businesses and trade associations, with whom he visited the bilateral chambers of commerce in both countries to mark the 100th anniversary of their foundation.

Overview of the programme:

Monday, 11 July

  • Flight to Santiago de Chile

Tuesday, 12 July

  • former seat of the National Congress
    Meeting with the President of the Chilean Senate, Ricardo Lagos Weber, and with the President of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies, Osvaldo Andrade
  • Wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial to Bernardo O’Higgins
  • La Moneda presidential palace
    Welcome with military honours by the President of the Republic of Chile, Michelle Bachelet Jeria
    Followed by talks
  • Joint press conference
  • former seat of the National Congress
    Joint opening of the conference on challenges facing democracy
    With speech by President Gauck
  • Courts of Justice Palace
    Talks with the President of the Supreme Court of Chile, Hugo Enrique Dolmestch Urra
  • La Moneda presidential palace
    State banquet hosted by the President of the Republic of Chile

Wednesday, 13 July

  • Visit to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights
    Thereafter: talks with representatives from civil society
  • Club de la Unión
    Luncheon hosted by the German-Chilean Chamber of Industry and Commerce to mark the centenary of its foundation
    With address by President Gauck
  • Residence of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
    Reception hosted by President Gauck and Daniela Schadt

Thursday, 14 July

  • Flight to Montevideo
  • seat of the Parliament
    Welcome by the Vice President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and President of the Senate, Raúl Sendic
    Followed by talks
  • Ceremony to present two commemorative stamps issued by the Uruguay postal service on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Uruguay and tour of the Parliament building

Friday, 15 July

  • seat of the Supreme Court
    Welcome by the President of the Supreme Court, Ricardo César P. Manrique
    Followed by talks
  • Plaza Independencia
    Wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial to José Gervasio Artigas
  • Welcome with military honours by the President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas
    Followed by talks
  • Joint press conference
  • Luncheon in honour of President Gauck and Daniela Schadt hosted by the President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay
    With address by President Gauck
  • City Hall
    Welcome by the Mayor of Montevideo, Daniel Martínez
    Followed by talks
  • Presentation of the keys to the city to President Gauck
    Thereafter: address by the President Gauck
  • Museum of Art History at the City Hall
    Opening of the exhibition on 160 years of German-Uruguayan relations

Saturday, 16 July

  • Visit to the Bader company (leather manufacturer for the automobile industry)
  • Visit to the Ánima training centre (education centre for young people)
  • Club de Golf del Uruguay
    Luncheon hosted by the German-Uruguayan Chamber of Industry and Commerce to mark the centenary of its foundation
    With address by President Gauck
  • Casona Mauá cultural centre
    Panel discussion with youth representatives on social inclusion of young people in Uruguay
  • delegation hotel
    Reception hosted by President Gauck and Daniela Schadt
  • Flight to Berlin