By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Embassy of Peru in Seoul held a reception to mark the 204th Anniversary of the Independence of Peru at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on July 28, 2025.

Delivering a speech at the reception, Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Fernando Duclos Farodi said, “In 2024, during the APEC Leaders' Summit held in Lima, Peru had the honor of transferring to Korea the chairmanship of this key platform for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

“One of the most emblematic achievements of APEC Peru was the restoration of consensus among its 21 member economies, leading to more than twenty agreements.”

Amb. Duclos Farodi stressed, “Of particular importance was the approval of a roadmap for the transition to a formal and integrated economy, especially benefiting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, allowing them to better harness the opportunities offered by this dynamic region.”

Commenting that the solid bilateral relationship has been built on key milestones, he said, “The Free Trade Agreement signed in 2011 has made Korea Peru's fifth-largest export market, and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2012. Building on this momentum, just a few months ago, during an official presidential visit to Peru, both countries adopted a Joint Declaration reaffirming our shared commitment to deepening cooperation in emerging strategic sectors, such as digital transformation, climate action, food security, critical minerals investment, and infrastructure development.”

The Peruvian Independence Day reception was attended by more than 300 distinguished guests from home and abroad, including foreign ambassadors to Korea, to celebrate Peru's Independence Day.

In a congratulatory speech, Kim Hee-sang, Vice Minister for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, said, “Major Korean companies are actively participating as key partners in Peru's defense and infrastructure sectors. Furthermore, Korea has designated Peru as a priority partner for Official Development Assistance (ODA) for three consecutive terms since 2011, and has been promoting various projects to support sustainable and inclusive development.

“This progress has laid a crucial foundation for Peru's efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Korea has wholeheartedly supported this endeavor as a long-standing partner.”

Noting that the world is now facing increasing uncertainty due to intensifying geopolitical competition and complex global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and supply chain instability, Vice Minister Kim said, “However, these challenges present valuable opportunities for Korea and Peru to deepen their cooperation, enabling them to jointly address the challenges of our time and usher in a new era. The friendly relationship between Korea and Peru is further strengthened through cooperation within APEC.”

He added, “Last year, the APEC Summit in Lima saw constructive bilateral talks between our two countries, and this year, we are continuing our close cooperation as members of the APEC Troika. Korea is scheduled to host the APEC Summit in Gyeongju this October under the theme of "Connectivity, Innovation, Prosperity," and we are very much looking forward to it.”