First Summit Meeting with the President of Peru
Unified Condemnation of North Korea's Provocative Acts
President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Dina Boluarte of Peru are attending the signing ceremony of the Korea-Peru Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) held at the Presidential Palace in Lima, Peru, on the 16th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News
On the 16th (local time), President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in Lima, Peru, and announced that they agreed to further expand cooperation in the defense and defense industry sectors, including the joint development of naval vessels.
In a joint press conference after the summit, President Yoon said, "I am very pleased to visit Peru, a key ally, as my first destination in Latin America since taking office," adding, "When the Korean War broke out on the Korean Peninsula in 1950, the Republic of Korea and Peru had not yet established diplomatic relations." He continued, "Peru did not hesitate to provide war supplies," and expressed gratitude by saying, "The people of Korea and I remember Peru as a grateful friend."
President Yoon mentioned, "Since the official establishment of diplomatic relations in 1963, the two countries have developed a solid cooperative relationship in various fields beyond geographical distance," and explained, "In 2011, the Korea-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into effect, and since 2012, we have developed a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'."
President Yoon emphasized, "The two countries have agreed to further expand cooperation in defense and defense industry sectors," adding, "Starting with the export of 20 KT-1P basic training aircraft in 2012, the two countries have maintained close defense industry cooperation, and this year, our company was selected as a strategic partner of the Peruvian Army and Navy to jointly promote key projects."
Signing of Nameplate for Korean Company-Built Vessel at Peruvian Shipyard
On this day, President Yoon and President Boluarte jointly signed the nameplate to be attached to the vessel being built by a Korean company at a Peruvian shipyard. President Yoon said, "This nameplate will be a symbol of the deepening defense industry partnership between the two countries."
Korea and Peru signed a total of three defense industry MOUs and agreements, including the 'Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Joint Development of Naval Vessels (Submarines)' and the 'Comprehensive Agreement on Army Ground Equipment Cooperation.' Regarding this, President Yoon said, "It will serve as a catalyst to accelerate Korea-Peru defense industry cooperation comprehensively."
Building on the significantly increased trade and investment since the Korea-Peru FTA came into effect in 2011, the two countries agreed to further strengthen economic cooperation.
President Yoon said, "President Boluarte and I agreed to successfully complete the ongoing 'Chinchero New Airport Construction Project' and to strengthen infrastructure cooperation between the two countries so that Peru can emerge as a transportation and logistics hub in Latin America," emphasizing, "The 'Core Minerals Cooperation MOU' signed today will serve as a starting point for deepening mutually complementary supply chain cooperation between resource-rich Peru and technologically advanced Korea."
Furthermore, the two leaders agreed to strengthen technological cooperation and human exchanges between the two countries. President Yoon said, "Based on the 'Korea-Peru ICT Cooperation MOU' and the 'Korea-Peru Digital Government Cooperation Center MOU' signed today, cooperation in information and communication technology (ICT) and digital transformation between the two countries will expand multilayeredly."
A tourism cooperation MOU was also signed. President Yoon noted, "Despite the geographical distance, more than 14,000 Korean nationals visited Peru last year alone," and predicted, "The tourism cooperation MOU will further broaden the contact points between the peoples of the two countries."
The two leaders agreed to strengthen strategic coordination in the Asia-Pacific region and on a global scale. In particular, they jointly condemned North Korea's provocative acts that threaten the global non-proliferation regime and regional and world peace and security, and reiterated the call for North Korea's complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization.
President Yoon said, "Peru, through today's joint declaration, supports the goal of achieving a unified Korean Peninsula based on freedom, peace, and prosperity, and welcomes our 'August 15 Unification Doctrine,'" adding, "As the host of APEC next year, Korea will build on Peru's achievements and gather the wisdom of member countries to realize a prosperous Asia-Pacific region."
Peruvian President: "Please Continue Investing in Korea"
President Boluarte said, "The relationship between Peru and the Republic of Korea is currently at a very good stage," and requested Korean companies to continue investing in Peru by emphasizing Peru's trustworthiness, solid legal system, and stable macroeconomic and financial environment." She particularly introduced opportunities for Korean investors to participate in the future logistics industry and technology hub located on Peru's central coast, stating, "This hub will become a new central axis connecting trade between the southern Pacific, Asia, and the Pacific once the Chancay port opens."
President Boluarte explained, "Peru and Korea are seeking close relations and cooperation in environmental fields such as climate change response, and have been working together through cooperation," adding, "This includes digital government, information and communication technology, tourism development, electronic certification for fishery trade, core minerals, and defense industry sectors." She also mentioned, "Climate change cooperation agreements and aviation agreements between the two countries will soon come into effect." She pledged full support to Korea, which will host APEC in 2025.
President Boluarte held an official welcoming ceremony in the afternoon and personally greeted President Yoon upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders exchanged Peru's highest honor, the Order of the Sun, and Korea's highest honor, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa.
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