Prime Minister Luis Galarreta stated that it is essential to approve travel authorization for President Keiko Fujimori to attend the 2026 APEC forum in Shenzhen, China, as it will contribute to efforts to address the El Niño phenomenon.
He noted that, during this trip, the President will meet with the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping. If she does not depart from Peru on Sunday the 15th, she would be unable to make the appointment, given the time difference with the Asian nation.
"[The meeting with the Chinese president] is on the 17th, if I’m not mistaken. So, this represents a significant contribution toward addressing the El Niño phenomenon. APEC itself is already important enough," the Prime Minister told El Comercio.
The request submitted to Congress also includes a visit to Japan, where the President is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. "[In Japan], she also has an important meeting, and all of this is related to the El Niño phenomenon," he said.
Should the trip be approved, the Head of State will not be present for the farewell to Pope Leo XVI, who arrives in the country tomorrow. Regarding this, Galarreta Velarde noted that she will accompany the Pope during various other meetings, adding that they have sought to ensure the Executive branch’s involvement remains less formal, allowing the visit to be as spiritual as possible.
"[...] I hope everything goes exceptionally well for the Pope, as intended, but the government must carry on—it has to keep doing its work. That is the core issue, regardless of what might be said in the Senate," he stated.
Regarding preparations for the El Niño phenomenon, he questioned the lack of action by previous administrations, noting that the current government is "preparing with what they inherited"—implementing measures such as desilting rivers, installing geogrids, and distributing dengue vaccines, among other initiatives.
He pointed out that S/ 1.5 billion ($ 440 million) has been invested in these measures—"double the entire budget spent during the El Niño phenomenon of 2015—with another S/ 1 billion ($ 290 million) yet to be allocated."
Cabinet remains united
Elsewhere, Galarreta emphasized that the Ministerial Cabinet remains united and focused on a single objective: working with urgency and efficiency. He explained that these first 100 days have been used to identify key challenges and resolve the bottlenecks hindering progress.
"We have stated that the President will fulfill all the promises she made during her campaign. These first 100 days will be remembered as a turning point for everything we plan to do moving forward, because we cannot afford to be caught as unprepared by the next El Niño phenomenon as we are today," stated the head of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM).
Furthermore, he highlighted a legislative decree that amends the Penal Code to penalize individuals who allow their bank accounts or digital wallets to be used for receiving funds derived from extortion and other criminal activities.
He noted that both the person committing the act of extortion and those who facilitate criminals' access to such illicit funds are held responsible. "By tracing the flow of money, we can cut off the financing," declared Luis Galarreta.
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(END) MCA / MDV
Publicado: 10/11/2026