Peru celebrates 201^st Anniversary of Independence

Ambassador Jorge Félix Rubio Correa and Lt. General Peter Anthony Jacobs, Divisional Commissioner Inspectorate raising a toast

10 August 2022

Peru and South Africa have much in common said Ambassador Jorge Félix Rubio Correa of Peru at the celebration of the 201st anniversary of the independence of Peru which took place in Pretoria, South Africa on 28 July.

Peru and South Africa are both multicultural, multiracial, multilingual, mega-diverse countries affected by climate change. They are mining countries which have great potential for agricultural exports. They also share cold sea currents from Antarctica such as the Humboldt and Benguela currents, which make their oceans rich in fish. Taking all of this into account Rubio Correa said, “We have to develop our affinities, share our knowledge and enrich ourselves with our experiences to apply what is adaptable to our development and the well-being of our populations.”

He expounded on Peru’s position in the international arena and its expanding relations with South Africa and the region. “A true relationship between two countries is forged and consolidated only when economic, cultural and social ties are created between societies. When the peoples of both countries know, value and respect each other. That is our job,” said Ambassador Rubio Correa.

Read Ambassador Jorge Félix Rubio Correa’s full remarks below

Thank you very much for joining us in celebrating the anniversary of the independence of Peru, enacted on a day like today, July 28, 201 years ago.

Peru, like South Africa, is a multicultural, multiracial, multilingual, mega-diverse country affected by climate change. We both are mining countries which also have great potential in agricultural exports. We also share cold sea currents from Antarctica such as the Humboldt and Benguela currents, which make our oceans rich in fish. We have to develop our affinities, share our knowledge and enrich ourselves with our experiences to apply what is adaptable to our development and the well-being of our populations.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of political consultations" will allow us to sign new agreements, which are advanced in various sectors of bilateral interest such as Antarctic affairs, mining, judicial cooperation, culture, environment, education, among others. We hope to announce soon the visit of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru to inaugurate the Peru-South Africa Political Consultation Mechanism which has been postponed several times due to the pandemic.

However, beyond government agreements, the most important thing is that societies get to know each other and interrelate more. Hence, a good part of our management is aimed at creating institutional links between our universities, cultural, sports and business centres.

A true relationship between two countries is forged and consolidated only when economic, cultural and social ties are created between societies. When the peoples of both countries know, value and respect each other. That is our job.

Peru’s position in the international arena has been taking shape in a sustained manner through different governments, becoming a state policy and, therefore, an instrument of our development. In the early 1990s, Peru opened its borders to foreign investment, free trade, and established a social market economy.

With this base, Peru was projected to the Asia Pacific by joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation – APEC. Free trade agreements were signed with the European Union, the United States, China, Japan, and so on with 58 countries. The Pacific Alliance was created, an integration mechanism of great international projection made up of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, which has Singapore as an associated country and is negotiating the same status for other countries. We are part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP 11; and we continue the process of joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - OECD, in order to strengthen our democratic institutions and consolidate our economic growth with greater social equity.

Peru is also a country that adheres to the norms of international law, that is, to the defence of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as well as the obligation to resolve disputes by peaceful means.

This international projection defines the modern, democratic and developed country that we aspire to be. Peru has opened up to the world and is very well positioned in our region, Europe, Asia and Oceania. However, we are aware that we must expand our presence in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa in particular.

Peru's economic presence in the region is growing. There are Peruvian companies with interests in Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, among other countries. This year our Embassy has established the concurrency with Zambia where there are several Peruvian companies that provide mining services and where around 400 Peruvians live. We hope to soon expand our presence in Southern Africa. South African companies such as Goldfields and Westfalia Fruits, present at this celebration, have significant investments in Peru and we are seeking the entry of new companies. Tribecca Coffee, which also accompanies us today, buys coffee from Peru for its decaf products.

Today we celebrate our anniversary again after two years of the pandemic. There were difficult moments, but also interesting achievements, especially when we were able to repatriate 93 Peruvians stranded in South Africa. Without much resources we organized a flight to Peru with South African Airways and a charter contracted with LATAM, via Sao Paulo, a city in which we incorporated 72 Peruvian crew members from the MSC cruise ship and 55 vulnerable Peruvians stranded in Brazil. There were a total of 220 nationals. This achievement was accomplished with the valuable support of the South African authorities to which we are grateful.

A mis compatriotas: Somos una embajada pequeña, pero nos sentimos fortalecidos por la presencia de peruanos que, muy lejos de su tierra, nos acompañan en Sudáfrica, Mozambique, Zambia y los países vecinos, enriqueciendo con su trabajo, esfuerzo y creatividad al país que los acoge. Sigamos dando ejemplo de lo que es una comunidad esforzada y honesta y generando riqueza para el Perú y Sudáfrica.

Dear friends, today Peru is your home. Thank you very much for your presence.

VIVA EL PERÚ!