ZAGREB, 4 March (2022) - Croatian President Zoran Milanović on Friday spoke on the phone with Chile's President-elect Gabriel Boric on the centuries-old ties between the two countries and accepted Boric's invitation for a visit, Milanović's office said in a press release.

Milanović once again congratulated Boric on the election victory and regretted that he will not be able to attend the March 11 inauguration.

The two said the Croatian community plays an important role in the social and the political life of Chile. Thanks to that community, Croatia and Chile have had centuries-old close ties, they added.

Milanović and Boric exchanged views on the current situation in the world, with emphasis on the crisis in Europe.

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ZAGREB, 9 Sept 2021 - The Croatian diaspora in Chile is the most successful Croatian community in the world, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Thursday after meeting with his Chilean counterpart Diego Paulsen Kehr.

"A large number of Croats live in Chile. They are successful in politics, business, science, education, and many other areas," Jandroković said after the meeting.

"We consider the Croatian diaspora in Chile to be one of the most successful Croatian communities in the world," he added, describing the Croatian minority in Chile as a bridge between the two countries.

According to Chile's foreign ministry, there are more than 200,000 people of Croatian descent living in Chile, which is almost 1.3% of the total population, as reported by the Central State Office for Croats Abroad.

Paulsen is a member of the party of President Sebastián Piñera, one of the wealthiest people in Chile.

After the meeting with Jandroković, Paulsen said that his visit, as well as a forthcoming visit by Chile's defense minister, is aimed at developing economic cooperation. He added that of all the EU countries his country invests in Croatia the most.

Noting examples of good cooperation, the two officials mentioned the Lukišić family from Chile as one of the biggest investors in the Croatian tourism sector.

They said that the cooperation between the two countries in the coming period will particularly focus on multilateral organizations, especially with regard to sustainability, climate change and green policies, and the fight against autocratic regimes in the world.

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