CONTRIBUTION Celebrating 204 years as a republic: deepening multilevel Peru-Korea relations
Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Duclos, fourth from left, poses with people wearing both Korean and Peruvian traditional attire during the country's national day event in Seoul, July 28. Courtesy of Embassy of Peru in Seoul
On July 28, Peru commemorated 204 years as an independent republic. This significant milestone was not only a moment of national celebration, but also an occasion for reflection on the progress we have made and the challenges we continue to face as a nation.
At the same time, this special anniversary also marks 62 years of friendly and cooperative diplomatic relations between the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Korea. Our partnership, grounded in shared bilateral and global visions, continues to flourish in a spirit of auspicious, forward-looking association.
This robust relationship is grounded in our Free Trade Agreement (FTA), in force since 2011, and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2012. These frameworks have been reinforced through formal coordination mechanisms in both economic and political spheres. A key milestone in this evolving relationship was the adoption of a Joint Declaration during the official presidential visit to Peru in 2024, reaffirming our shared commitment at the highest level.
Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Duclos speaks during the country's national day event in Seoul, July 28. Courtesy of Embassy of Peru in Seoul
These developments have let us expand our alliance into emerging and strategic sectors such as digital transformation, climate change, cultural exchanges, critical minerals, infrastructure development and education. Particularly noteworthy is our deepening collaboration in defense and security. Recent strategic agreements have propelled initiatives such as the construction of a modern shipyard, the co-production of naval vessels and armored vehicles and participation in the value chain for military aircraft — sectors with significant potential for continued growth in the years ahead.
Also in 2024, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week in Lima, Peru had the honor of transferring the forum's presidency to Korea. Over the past 35 years, APEC has served as the premier platform for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. It has successfully advanced trade and investment integration in the world's most dynamic economic zone, which today represents 62 percent of global GDP and 48 percent of international trade.
One of the landmark accomplishments of APEC Peru 2024 was the restoration of consensus among its 21 member economies, culminating in 20 key deliverables. These include the Machu Picchu Joint Declaration of Economic Leaders and the Ichma Statement, which offered a renewed vision for the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Furthermore, 11 ministerial declarations and seven technical-political instruments were adopted, covering diverse areas such as economic inclusion for persons with disabilities, the development of clean hydrogen, principles for reducing food loss and waste, fair energy transition strategies, the promotion of women's participation in the economy and one of Peru’s top priorities, a roadmap for transitioning to a formal and globally integrated economy. This roadmap aims to build comprehensive public policy tools to reduce high levels of informality, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby allowing them to better benefit from regional economic opportunities.
In line with the 35th anniversary of APEC, Peru also launched the “APEC for the People” initiative, aimed at increasing civil society’s involvement in the economic benefits and sustainable growth promoted by the forum. The initiative featured a wide array of cultural, scientific and technological events that leveraged the presence of global leaders, experts and academics during the summit.
Looking ahead, Peru fully supports the success of APEC Korea 2025, whose Leaders’ Week will take place in October in the historic city of Gyeongju. President Dina Boluarte is expected to participate in this significant event. Under the inspiring theme of "Connect. Innovate. Prosper.," Korea is leading efforts to continue building a more inclusive, innovative and resilient regional economy, particularly by empowering the most vulnerable economic actors. Peru stands ready to support Korea’s leadership in achieving these goals.
Paul Duclos is the Peruvian ambassador to Korea