Chile, Bolivia set to hold first meeting in 4 years

SANTIAGO – Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and her Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales are likely to discuss access to natural gas in a first official meeting between two south American neighbors on July 25 in Lima.

It will be the first meeting between the two countries since 2013, when negotiations on a joint 13-point plan aimed at normalizing relations stalled over a border dispute.

The plan may explore options for Bolivia to use Chilean ports to export its natural gas to other markets, including to Chile.

Bolivia is trying to diversify its natural gas exports away from Argentina and Brazil.