La Paz, January 6 (RHC)-- Bolivia's Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca has confirmed his government's willingness to resume diplomatic relations with Chile, towards finding a lasting, negotiated solution to the century-old maritime dispute.

Choquehuanca admitted that President Evo Morales has repeatedly expressed his intentions to resume bilateral diplomatic ties with the government of President Michelle Bachelet, as long as authorities in Santiago de Chile are ready and willing to engage in a serious negotiations process at the highest level towards resolving common issues.

La Paz and Santiago de Chile maintain consular relations. Full diplomatic ties between the two neighbors were broken in 1962, due to Chile's continued refusal to return Bolivia its lost access to the Pacific Ocean.