Peruvian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Camino and Officer-in-Charge of the Representation of UNESCO in Peru Jose Diaz presided over the ceremony marking the inclusion of the "
Preliminary Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between Peru and Japan," signed in 1873, in the Regional Register of
UNESCO's
Memory of the World Program for Latin America and the Caribbean (MoWLAC).
During the activity, held at Torre Tagle Palace, the deputy minister noted that the incorporation of the treaty into the Regional Register has a special meaning for Peru and Japan, given that the signing of this international instrument established diplomatic relations between both countries, whose 150th anniversary was commemorated on August 21.
"The treaty also laid the foundations for the organized Japanese immigration to Latin America, which began 125 years ago with the arrival of the first 790 Japanese immigrants to Peru —the first Japanese immigration to South America. Thus, the integration of both societies officially began," the deputy minister remarked.
Likewise, he highlighted that the inclusion in the Regional Register recognizes the undeniable value of this treaty for the memory of Latin American and Caribbean society, as it records the establishment of the first ties of peace, friendship, cooperation, as well as cultural and trade exchange between Latin America and the Asian continent, being the first international instrument signed between a Latin American country and the empire of Japan.
Finally, Camino underscored the fact that, for the first time, a treaty from the valuable documentary collection guarded by the
"Ambassador Juan Miguel Bakula Patiño National Treaty Archive" of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is included in the Regional Register of the UNESCO's Memory of the World Program as a documentary heritage of humanity, is a source of pride for Peru and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It should be noted that the Memory of the World Program is an international initiative promoted by UNESCO since 1992, which, through its national and regional committees, helps create greater awareness among governments, institutions and citizens about the existence and importance of documentary heritage as a legacy of humanity.
The designated representative of the Regional Committee of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program for Latin America and the Caribbean, Laura Sanchez, also participated in the ceremony.
Furthermore, Japanese Ambassador to Peru Tsuyoshi Yamamoto was among the distinguished guests.
(END) NDP/NGB/JCR/RMB
Published: 4/29/2024