Marcos: Time to push stronger ties between Peru, PH

SAN FRANCISCO, USA - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday (PH Time) expressed belief it is time for the Philippines and Peru to push for stronger relations given the countries' common colonial history.

“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,” Marcos said during the bilateral meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.

Boluarte, for her part, invited Marcos to visit Peru to commemorate the establishment of formal relations between the two countries and 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,” Boluarte said.

“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," she added. 

Boluarte said Peru would be opening its embassy in Manila and she is hoping that the Philippines will also do the same in Peru. 

She said that 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," Boluarte said. 

Further, 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.

The two leaders were in San Francisco to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit 2023. — BAP/KG, GMA Integrated News