In November, the ICLAC Millennium Nucleus, in collaboration with the Institute of International Studies (IEI) at the University of Chile, conducted the training course “Multidimensional Impacts of China in Chile". This educational initiative was designed for officials and diplomats from Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREL), aiming to provide key tools to understand and manage the challenges and opportunities arising from China's growing influence in the country.
The initiative, conducted online and synchronously, was part of ICLAC's commitment to fostering dialogue beyond the academic sphere. As Andrés Bórquez, principal researcher and professor at the IEI, explained, the goal was to share the research conducted by the nucleus with diplomats: "We wanted to create a course focused on the impacts and share the nucleus's research findings with the officials, enabling a dialogue where they could also ask questions, provide observations, and express concerns", he noted.
The course consisted of six sessions delivered by ICLAC’s principal researchers: Francisco Urdinez, Dorotea López, María Montt, Andrés Bórquez, Claudia Labarca, Johannes Rehner, Patricia Palma, and Miguel Atienza. Topics covered included the economic, political, cultural, and media impacts of China's presence in Chile, concluding with a practical workshop reflecting on the strategic challenges and opportunities in this bilateral relationship.
Regarding the reception of the course by diplomats, Bórquez highlighted that it addressed information on the impacts in political, cultural, and media terms, topics that are usually less addressed: "We presented new data and insights that were well received by the officials, sparking debates and questions", he said.
With China as Chile's main trading partner and a key player in the country's interests, the course sought not only to enhance understanding of the Asian giant's political, social, and cultural impacts but also to strengthen the capacity of officials and diplomats to navigate an increasingly complex relationship. This initiative by the ICLAC Millennium Nucleus represents a milestone in collaboration between academia and Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.