Chilean President Conducts Official Visit to US

The newly-elected Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, will meet US president George Bush in Washington, during her first official visit ever since she was appointed to this office in January this year, BBC informs.

The two chiefs of state will meet at the White House and hold important debates upon economic and regional problems, as well as political developments in the area.

The state visit comes amid a second row of violent protests by Chilean high-school students with regard to the current education reform, which the Chilean president intends to change following the nomination of a new education reform commission, in an effort to successfully mount this first test since her election. The group is expected to elaborate upon long-term plans that will target the improvement of schools and universities in Chile.

However, the commission's activities up to this point completely dissatisfied student protesters since a second nationwide strike occurred on Monday, when at least 262 people were arrested. According to organizers, at least 1 million people attended the demonstrations.

The visit also occurs at a truly delicate time, just as an anti-American sentiment looms in all Latin America, especially with Bolivia and Venezuela making their political points of view regarding the US quite clear. However, Washington regards Chile as an economic model for the Latin continent and expects the country would prove itself able to maintain political and economic stability throughout the whole region.