Andina

Peru reaffirms commitment to regional integration

Photo: ANDINA/Presidencia.

Photo: ANDINA/Presidencia.

16:01 | Lima, Jul. 29 (ANDINA).

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has reaffirmed his country's commitment to integration in Latin America, a top priority in the Andean country's foreign policy agenda.

In his Independence Day speech on Sunday, the head of state said that Peru "renews its commitment to the Andean Community (CAN), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)."

Peru currently holds the rotating presidency of Unasur, which also comprises Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Suriname, Guyane, Uruguay and Venezuela.

As for the fledgling Pacific Alliance, President Humala noted that the group --composed of Peru, Colombia, Chile and Mexico-- is an important trading bloc in the region.

He added that the election of Peru as host of major international events is a sign of the international community's confidence in the country, which recently hosted the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Latin America and will welcome International Monetary Fund and World Bank delegates for their annual meetings in Lima in 2015.

The Conference of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit will also take place in the Peruvian capital in 2016.

(END) ASH/LOG/EEP


Published: 7/29/2013