01:00 | Munich (Germany), Feb. 17.
Before high-ranking authorities at the
61st Munich Security Conference,
Foreign Affairs Minister Elmer Schialer reaffirmed the Peruvian Government's strong commitment to promoting new private mining initiatives and ensuring the sustainability of national economic growth, with the goal of improving citizens' living conditions.
At the "Critical Minerals" event within the conference's main program, the ambassador underscored that Peru responsibly assumes its leadership role in the global supply of eight strategic minerals essential for the development of clean energy technologies.
Minister Schialer emphasized that the growing international importance of these minerals presents an opportunity for greater economic development and the South American country's productive transformation.
The Cabinet member highlighted that Peru is an active member of the Minerals Security Partnership Forum, a platform for discussing the promotion and implementation of mining projects, as well as for designing a more secure and sustainable critical minerals supply policy with local benefits.
The panel featured Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection; Andrew Forrest, Executive Chairman of Fortescue mining company; and Helen Clark, member of The Elders Foundation and former Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Bilateral Events and Meetings
There, the government official stated that Peru firmly believes in a strong, efficient, and member-state-led multilateral framework as a crucial actor in promoting sustainable growth, institutional stability, and social progress.
Likewise, at the roundtable "Beyond Lose-Lose: Protecting Trade in an Age of Geoeconomics," the Peruvian diplomat emphasized that the multiple crises affecting the global trade system, along with the emergence of new actors and issues, call for a redefinition of the current multilateral trade structures.
In the bilateral sphere, China, the United States, and Europe are key partners for Peru, with which it maintains free trade agreements, he underlined.
Schialer stressed that Peru pursues a policy of active neutrality, maintaining the best relations with its partners while upholding national interest as the highest priority.
As part of his agenda in Munich, the minister met with the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
He highlighted the good state of bilateral relations and underlined the high value of dialogue as a tool for building a more united, prosperous, and fraternal society, as stated by Pope Francis in his message to the President on the occasion of Peru's National Day in July 2024.
Likewise, Foreign Affairs Minister Schialer met with his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlic-Radman, who announced his government's decision to soon establish a resident Embassy in Peru.
Both dignitaries agreed to hold the first Political and Diplomatic Consultations Mechanism between their countries, expected in July.
In turn, the Croatian high-ranking official invited his Peruvian counterpart to participate as a speaker at the "Dubrovnik Forum," a major global platform for political dialogue, which this year will address the topic of AI in international relations.
During his meeting with Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister, Andrii Sybiha, Ambassador Schialer reaffirmed Peru's firm position of strict respect for international law, including the prohibition of the use of violence and war in international relations.
In this regard, he expressed hopes for the prompt establishment of a just and lasting peace to end the armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
They agreed to continue strengthening bilateral relations through ongoing high-level engagement between authorities from both countries.
Peru's participation in this edition of the Munich Security Conference reaffirmed its leadership in international security matters as a credible interlocutor in addressing current global challenges.
(END) NDP/MVB
Published: 2/17/2025