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Chile, EU

sign new

trade accord

SANTIAGO: Chile and the European Union have agreed a new cooperation accord to strengthen commercial and political ties in step towards a free trade agreement, said the Chilean Foreign Ministry on Friday.

"This brings to the end a very important stage in Chile's insertion into the outside world', said Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mariano Fernandez.

The wide ranging agreement includes political dialogue, mechanisms for trade liberalisation and strengthening of economic links especially in the areas of investment and services, said the statement.

The accord will be signed on June 22 at the Council of Europe meeting to be held in Florence.-Reuter