Santiago, November 24, 2014 (Telesur).- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will inaugurate the high-level meetings of member countries from the Pacific Alliance and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) bloc.

Representatives from both sides will meet today in Santiago in order to discuss stronger ties between the two regional integration entities.

Bachelet is expected to hold an official lunch at the Presidential palace where participants including trade officials, academics, union members and private business leaders from various South American countries.

“This is a large scale event. It is very important to visualize in a pragmatic y gradual fashion how to reach compatible regional integration agreements to strengthen our voice and our presence on a global level,” the Chilean Foreign Relations Minister Heraldo Muñoz stated.

Last February, Muñoz proposed the creation of a trade alliance between Southern Common Market countries and the Pacific Alliance.

Since then, several ministerial discussions have taken place between Pacific Alliance and MERCOSUR representatives to address strategies to deepen trade ties.