'Peru and Turkey: Home to ancient civilizations'

Thanking President Ollanta Humala for their hospitality, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he was proud to pay the first Presidential visit from Turkey to Peru.

“Peru is a prestigious country with its strategic location on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, its growing economy, stable democracy and natural beauty,” President Erdoğan said, recalling that Turkey opened an embassy in Lima in 2010 to boost its relations with Peru and Peru reciprocated by opening an embassy in Turkey the same year.

RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND PERU

Expressing that both Turkey and Peru had been home to ancient civilizations, President Erdoğan said: “Our people’s struggle for independence in the face of colonization and foreign invasion also bear a resemblance.”

“Turkey and Peru have great potential in many areas from trade and tourism to economy and infrastructure investments, waiting to be discovered,” President Erdoğan said, adding that their meetings were very productive.

Stating that over 100 Turkish businessmen came to Peru as a part of his delegation, President Erdoğan said: “During a business forum, which will be held with Peruvian businessmen, we, the Presidents, will address them to encourage them to do business together in Peru, Turkey or in a third country.”

“WE DISCUSSED REGIONAL AND GLOBAL MATTERS”

President Erdoğan stated: “During our meeting with President Humala, we discussed what we could do in defense cooperation, in trade, infrastructure, in political and cultural areas, in education. Peru has great potential in mining and energy. We talked about what we could do together.”

Conveying that they also discussed regional and global matters, President Erdoğan drew attention to the painful period, Turkey’s region was going through, and said: “I am confident Peru, which is known for its sensitivity to humanitarian issues, will share the sufferings of Syrian refugees,” voicing his expectation that Peru participate in the UN World Humanitarian Summit, which would be held for the first time in May in Istanbul, at the highest level.

Expressing his sorrow over the Peruvian citizen, injured during the terrorist attack in Sultanahmet, President Erdoğan said: “Turkey will continue to struggle against the terrorist organization in a determined way.”

“We would like to increase the trade volume between our countries, which was $260 million in 2015, up to $1 billion,” President Erdoğan said.

PERUVIAN PRESIDENT HUMALA: “TURKEY’S VISIT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US”

In his statement, President Humala of Peru said Turkey was among the top 20 economies of the world and hosted the G20 Summit, adding that Turkey’s visit was very important in this regard.

Expressing that economies in the world had inter-complementary characteristics, President Humala said both countries would benefit from agreements like a free trade agreement.

After the press conference, President Erdoğan attended an official dinner, hosted in his honor by President Humala.