Chile and the European Union (EU) have agreed to begin talks on liberalizing trade in agricultural products, according to Chile's foreign ministry.

In a statement published on Friday, the ministry said this step was originally outlined in the political and trade cooperation agreement signed in 2002.

The EU has pledged to provide Chile with 34.4 million euros (about 40 million U.S. dollars) from 2002 to 2006 to help boost Chile's modernization drive, business promotion and implementation of the accord.

The EU and Chile have also agreed to cooperate on the issue of Haiti, with both supporting for an electoral process in that country.

The two sides have also discussed a summit to be attended by Latin American, Caribbean and European leaders in Vienna in May.

Source: Xinhua