Chilean ambassador in Budapest: Hungarians, Chileans have a very introspective personality
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His excellency, Camilo Sanhueza, the ambassador of Chile in Budapest gave us a detailed interview covering his first experiences in Hungary in the early 1990s, the similarities between Chile and Hungary, how Santiago tackles with the emerging energy crisis and the Chilean community living in Hungary. He also talked about his favourite Hungarian composers, singers and traditional dishes.
DNH: Have you visited Hungary before you were appointed Ambassador to Budapest? If not, what did you hear about Hungarians prior to your arrival?
Ambassador Sanhueza: Yes, my first visit to Hungary was in 1992 as a tourist. I am really impressed by how much it has changed in the last three decades. Especially the great work done to preserving the architectonic heritage and the way Hungary’s society and commerce has open itself to international markets. Back then it wasn’t that easy to find some products. Also, few people spoke English, it was easier communicating in German.
DNH: What was your first thought when you were informed that your next mission would be to the Hungarian capital?
Ambassador Sanhueza: I was extremely happy to be able to collaborated in the strengthening of our bilateral relationship. Likewise, I was looking forward to live in such a beautiful city as Budapest so filled with culture specially a wonderful music scene.
DNH: Can you share a bit more about yourself? Did your family follow you to Hungary? How did diplomacy become an important factor in your life? How do you spend your spare time?
Ambassador Sanhueza: My wife is a diplomat as well; she is posted in The Netherlands where she lives with our children. During the pandemic Hungary and The Netherlands weren´t so strict in terms of travelling restrictions so thankfully I was able to continue flying back and forth in order to visit my family.
I joined the Chilean Foreign Service in 1987, so I have spent the last 35 years as a diplomat, a career that has become a way of life more than a job and has allowed me to visit so many places, to know so many people and study so many different topics.
Concerning my spare time, Budapest offers so many interesting attractions such as a vibrant cultural life with concerts, museums and literature. I must confess I have always had a particular attraction to the work of Hungarian painters.
DNH: Not only is Chile a very interesting country geographically but also it has a colourful history. Tell us about the five most important events in Chile that changed your country.
Ambassador Sanhueza: Precisely, as a Chilean writer once wrote, Chile has a crazy geography from the most arid desert in the world in Atacama to the South Pole in Antarctica. Washed by one of the largest coastlines where the horizon is lost in the infinite and backed by the Andes mountain range with summits
that can reach 7000 meters high.
DNH: What similarities do you see between Hungary and Chile?
Ambassador Sanhueza: I think Hungarians as well as Chileans have a very introspective personality. Even though we are Latin American, being enclosed by the sea, the Andes and Antarctica has made us more isolated people.
DNH: What are the possible trade links between two countries so far apart?
Ambassador Sanhueza: Traditionally Hungary buys from Chile products derived from copper since we are the first exporters worldwide. Meanwhile, Chile buys mostly automobile spare parts and accessories. I see great potential to expand the import of Chilean products such as fresh fruit, dry fruits, fish and seafood.
