Gabriel Boric Font, the new President of Chile received a unique gift from the Japanese minister on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at a customary ceremony where the incoming president of Chile receives foreign representatives.

In a heart-warming show of international diplomacy, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Kiyoshi Odawara presented the President-Elect a Squirtle plushie in a Pokeball at the meeting in the Municipality of Santiago.

Gracias al Ministro de Estado para Asuntos Exteriores de Japón, Kiyoshi Odawara, por este Squirtle! pic.twitter.com/gJVYRIPe53

— Gabriel Boric Font (@gabrielboric) March 10, 2022

Boric seemed extremely delighted by the gift and shared his gratitude on Twitter and Instagram accepting the Water-type pocket monster as his administration’s starter Pokémon. In fact, he commented that he watched Pokémon in his childhood and that his favorite character was precisely Squirtle.

“I will travel all across the land, searching far and wide 🎶 Thank you Japan for this Squirtle!,” Boric wrote on his Instagram.

Boric, beat his opponent, José Antonio Kast, in a run-off election held on Dec 19, becoming the youngest president in Chilean history. He is also the second-youngest state leader in the world.

He is currently serving as a member of the Chamber of Deputies representing the Magallanes Region’s 60th district from 2014 to 2018 and the 28th district from 2018 to 2022. He will continue to serve in the Chamber of Deputies until his inauguration as president on March 11, 2022.

Source: Chile AS