PERUVIAN President Dina Boluarte invited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday to visit Peru to commemorate the establishment of formal relations between Peru and the Philippines, as well as to bring Filipino investment to the South American country.
“And I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you officially for [an] official State Visit to Peru, to celebrate 50 years of our bilateral ties and next year it is going to be 50 years. So, we’d be honored if you can pay a state visit to us to commemorate,” Boluarta said in extending her invitation to President Marcos during their bilateral meeting in San Francisco, California.
“And so, we look forward to welcoming you to Peru with open arms and warm heart to have that brotherly and sisterly treatment between our countries.”
Peru, Boluarte said, is a very stable country, with the lowest inflation rate in the region, adding that she would also like Marcos to come to the Asia-Pacific Cooperation (APEC) 2024 for him to get to know the premium culture of Peru.
According to Boluarte, Peru will be opening its embassy in Manila and she is hoping that the Philippines will also do the same in Peru. Peru closed its Embassy in Manila in 2003 as part of its austerity program. The Peruvian Ambassador in Bangkok covers the Philippines as a non-resident Ambassador.
“This will be a very important step in shortening the distance and shortening time in order to continue the ties between the Philippines and Peru.”
In terms of trade, Boluarte said she wants trade agencies of Peru and the Philippines to work together for the South American country to ship its agricultural products such as grapes, avocados, and blueberries to the Philippines.
For his part, Marcos thanked Boluarte for finding time in her very busy schedule during the APEC meeting in San Francisco to have the bilateral meeting with him.
“It is important especially as you are taking over the chairmanship for the next round of conferences,” he said.
“Especially, we are looking forward to coming to Lima, to Peru for the APEC but, of course, thank you again for your very kind invitation to come— to be with you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our relations— of our formal relations between Peru and the Philippines.”
The President said he believes it is time for Peru and the Philippines to pursue and encourage even stronger ties considering their common colonial history and as they emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
“I find that this is important in this time, in our history because of the importance of alliances and the partnerships that we forge in this time as we are trying to recover, to transform the economies after the pandemic, and in the face of the many geopolitical shocks that both our countries are feeling,” he told the Peruvian leader.
Peru and the Philippines established diplomatic relations on November 30, 1974, with the Philippines setting up its embassy in Lima in 1982 while Peru established its mission in Manila in 1980.
There are approximately 160 Filipinos in Peru as of September 2022, mostly professionals, service and sales workers, missionaries, and students.
The Philippines’ main exports to Peru include: electronic products, tuna, other manufactures, non-metallic mineral manufactures, and chemicals, among others.
Tourism is another potential area for greater cooperation.
