Santiago: The Angolan ambassador to Argentina, Azevedo Xavier Francisco, presented his credentials to the President of Chile, José Antonio Kast, on Tuesday, enabling him to represent the country in that South American nation. According to Angola Press News Agency, a press release from the Angolan embassy in Argentina sent to ANGOP, during the ceremony held at the La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago, the Angolan diplomat, also accredited to Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia, conveyed a verbal message from the President of the Republic, Joo Lourenço, to the Chilean Head of State, reaffirming Angola's interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation. In the message, Joo Lourenço also underlines the importance of consolidating political and diplomatic dialogue between Luanda and Santiago. In turn, José Antonio Kast congratulated the Angolan ambassador on his accreditation and expressed his government's willingness to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in various fields. After the official c eremony, Azevedo Xavier Francisco held a private meeting with the Chilean President, in the presence of Patrício Torres, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Eitan Bloch Wisniacki, international advisor to the Presidency of the Republic. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to strengthening political, diplomatic and cooperation relations between Angola and Chile. The agenda included the holding of the First Political Consultation Meeting between the two countries, scheduled for this year and currently under review by the Chilean side, as well as the negotiation of the Memorandum on Political Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Angola and Chile. The parties also analyzed the proposed agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and service passports, as well as the memorandum of understanding between the 'VenSncio de Moura' Diplomatic Academy of the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 'Andrés Bello' Diplomatic Academy of Chile, instruments already submitted to the Chilean side for consideration. The meeting also highlighted the importance of revitalizing the Angola-Chile Joint Action Plan, signed on September 26, 2014, with a view to deepening bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors. At the multilateral level, Angola and Chile discussed strengthening diplomatic coordination and mutual support for the candidacies of both countries in international and regional organizations. In the economic field, the Angolan ambassador presented the existing investment potential in Angola and encouraged the participation of the Chilean private sector in priority areas for the country's economic development, with emphasis on the steel, food processing and energy transport sectors. José Antonio Kast, lawyer and leader of the Republican Party, was elected President of Chile on December 14, 2025, with approximately 58 percent of the vote in the second round of the presidential elections, and took office on March 11, 2026. Relations between Angola and Chile are characterized by friendship and mutual respect, with potential for expansion in the political, economic, diplomatic and cultural fields. Azevedo Xavier Francisco represented Joo Lourenço at the inauguration ceremony of José Antonio Kast, held on March 11, 2026, in Santiago.