U.S. Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson —due to arrive in Lima on an official visit today— shared special memories of Peru, the first foreign country he ever visited.
In a recent press conference, Tillerson remarked Peru was the first foreign country he visited in his youth. He arrived in Lima in 1972 as member of the University of Texas musical band.
"It was an extraordinary trip. Went to the passport office, got my first passport, first foreign country I ever visited was with the University of Texas Longhorn Band to Peru. And it was interesting; it was a very successful trip […]," he said.
Tillerson explained a group of about one hundred members of the band flew down to Lima for a special mission trip to help raise money following a major earthquake in Peru, back in 1970.
"It does feel a bit like coming full circle," he said, referring to
his return to Peru on his first multi-stop visit to Latin America as Secretary of State.
Rex W. Tillerson will pay an official visit to Peru on February 5-6, as part of a trip to Latin America and the Caribbean.
This tour also includes stops in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica.
Today, he will hold an audience with Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister Cayetana Aljovin, with whom he is set to discuss bilateral relations.
(END) FVT/SMA/RMB
Published: 2/5/2018