Peru, Chile sign joint declaration

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet today signed a joint declaration in order to strengthen the countries’ bilateral relation. Here are some of the document’s highlights.

The South American leaders stressed the high level of dialogue, mutual trust and transparency between their governments, as well as their political will to deepen bilateral ties.

In this respect, they underlined their common ground on democracy, human rights, rule of law, International Law principles, social equality and solidarity among peoples.

Within this framework, Peru and Chile have agreed to establish Binational Cabinets, to be chaired by both Heads of State. The first meeting of the said mechanism has been scheduled for June 2017 and will be hosted by the Andean nation.

To this end, the countries will reactivate meetings in their various bilateral mechanisms.

The declaration also states the resumption of the Peru-Chile Permanent Committee on Consultation and Political Coordination (known as the “2+2 mechanism”). Results of the different activities carried out will be reported during Binational Cabinet meetings.

On the other hand, the Pacific Rim nations reaffirmed their commitment to continue adapting their corresponding internal regulations to the ruling by The Hague-based International Court of Justice, presented to the public on January 27, 2014.

It was also agreed that works on border matters be further developed to facilitate integration for the benefit of Peru and Chile’s peoples.

The fellow APEC members also decided to establish new consular premises in border cities Tacna (Peru) and Arica (Chile), and to exchange information on immigration matters of common interest.

Likewise, they reiterated their readiness to carry on promoting regional electrical interconnection, particularly boosting negotiations for the Tacna-Arica interconnection project.

In order to strengthen friendship, cooperation and integration ties between both nations, the Heads of State agreed to establish a dialogue forum between civil society and various government’s offices in the two countries.

Likewise, they stressed the importance of networking among members of both Congresses, as a contributing factor to reinforce bilateral relations.

Peru and Chile coincided in strengthening trade relations through the Peru-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the Additional Protocol to the Pacific Alliance Framework Agreement.

Regarding Peru’s attempt to enter the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Government of Chile expressed it will formally support the initiative once the council of said organization has discussed its extension.

The South American nations also reiterated their commitment —expressed in the last Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum held in Lima— to double efforts in order to promote free trade, quality growth and human development.

In addition, the high-ranking officials expressed the need to keep articulating efforts at the multilateral level, within the framework of the United Nations, the Inter-American System, and other regional institutions.

Furthermore, they highlighted their coincidences about the region’s situation, especially their concerns about Venezuela.

Both governments confirmed their commitment to fighting against transnational organized crime affecting their inhabitants.

To conclude, the document underlined the signing of a memorandum of understanding between both Foreign Affairs Ministries in a bid to establish a dialogue and cooperation mechanism on human rights.

ANDINA