Chile 'stronger' after mine rescue

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera is welcomed by David Cameron during his visit to Downing Street
12 April 2012

Chile's president has hailed the extra "respect" shown to his country in the wake of last week's dramatic rescue of trapped miners, as he emerged from talks at Downing Street.

Sebastian Pinera posed outside the door of Number 10 with Prime Minister David Cameron and said relations between the two nations were "stronger than ever".

As well as discussing joint working on education and clean energies, the president said they had talked about last week's "miracle" at the San Jose mine, which was watched across the globe.

Lumps of rock from the pit floor where the 33 miners were trapped underground for 69 days and a copy of the first message they sent to rescuers were among the gifts he brought for Mr Cameron.

In return, the Prime Minister handed over a bottle of London Pride ale for each rescued miner and an early edition of Robinson Crusoe - which was based on a real-life castaway on a Chilean island.

Mr Pinera, a billionaire businessman-turned-politician, spoke after the talks to a crowd of reporters swelled by the global interest in the mine story.

As he prepared to go to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen, he said it was the first time he had met Mr Cameron since they both took office.

"We are meeting again with more responsibility but with the same enthusiasm and commitment. And we discussed many things: how to improve and strengthen our economic relations, how to work together in terms of education, clean energies and many other topics," he said.

"I am sure that the traditional and historic friendship between Great Britain and Chile is now stronger than ever."

Asked about the rescue, he said: "I told him that it was a miracle."

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