For many years South Africa's relations with Chile were conducted from Buenos Aires, Argentina, until an Embassy was formally opened in Santiago in March 1974. Relations were however never formally normalised until the appointment of a Chilean Ambassador to South Africa in October 1991. Current relations are maintained at ambassadorial level.

South Africa and Chile are both developing countries, both are maturing democracies after years of repressive regimes, both are proponents of the concept of stronger South-South co-operation, share common experiences and problems and as such, can learn from each other and exchange expertise in related and relevant fields.

We were in conversation with the Ambassador of Chile to South Africa, His Excellency Mr Julio Fiol, who detailed the history and current state of relations between the two countries.