Peruvian Ambassador to the Philippines Cecilia Zunilda Galarreta Bazán said the Philippines’ participation in the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru will contribute to a more inclusive and resilient Asia-Pacific region.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the Filipino delegation for the APEC Economic Leaders Week in November,” the ambassador said at the 50th anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between Peru and the Philippines.
“We are grateful for the insightful participation and support of Filipino authorities in the different meetings, as well as for the valuable contribution of the Philippine business and academia representatives,” she added.
The ambassador noted that while the Philippines and Peru are geographically distant, shared historic and cultural elements unite the two countries across the Pacific.
“During my last visit to Manila, I was delighted to see different Peruvian products such as Quinoa and Chia in local supermarkets. I am confident we will see in the future fresh Peruvian products such as avocados, blueberries, and grapes here and more Philippine goods in my country,” Ambassador Galarreta Bazán said.
Ambassador Galarreta Bazán highlighted the longstanding partnership between the two nations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1974.
“Our countries have built a partnership based on mutual respect and shared values,” she said, citing mutual goals in promoting democracy, human rights, and a rules-based international order.
While the two countries don’t have a bilateral or regional trade agreement, the ambassador noted the possibilities of growth for the two countries.
“This special year we have some significant achievements to show. Aiming at bringing our countries even closer, in June this year we celebrated our first Political Consultation Mechanism and for that purpose our Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Peter Camino, visited Manila,” she said.
The Political Consultation Mechanism explored strategies to expedite market entry for new products and enhance cultural and scientific exchange including in maritime matters, climate change, and disaster risk prevention and management.
Looking ahead to APEC 2024, Ambassador Galarreta Bazán focused on the key areas that will be addressed during Peru’s third time hosting the forum.
“In this framework, we are focusing on empowering the most vulnerable economic actors in the Asia-Pacific region—such as SMEs, women entrepreneurs, youth, indigenous and rural populations,” she said. Among the expected outcomes are initiatives promoting the transition to a formal and global economy, low-carbon hydrogen policies, and sustainable finance.
Ambassador Galarreta Bazán also acknowledged the growing cooperation between Peru and ASEAN. She said that with the Philippines’ support, Peru obtained Development Partner status with ASEAN in January 2024.
“Within the Peru-ASEAN Development Committee, we will work steadily to advance on a more in-depth relation with the Philippines and the other ASEAN member states,” she said.
As the world grapples with pressing global challenges, including economic uncertainty, climate change, and food security, the ambassador called for stronger partnerships between countries like Peru and the Philippines.
“The challenges our world faces today… require more than ever that partners like Peru and the Philippines continue to strengthen dialogue and cooperation,” she said.
