<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, received his counterpart from Peru, Elmer Schialer, in Madrid on Friday, with whom he signed the Spain-Peru Country Association Framework (MAP) 2024-27, the document that establishes the guidelines for the cooperation policy between the two countries for the coming years.</strong></h4> “I receive my counterpart from Peru, Elmer Schialer, in Madrid,” Albares said through his social media accounts X and Bluesky. “We have discussed our bilateral and cooperation relations, which we deepened with the signing of the Spain-Peru Association Framework 2024-27 and the agreement for the promotion of Spanish in international organizations,” he added. According to the Ministry in a press release, the new Peru-Spain Country Partnership Framework 2024-2027 will reinforce aspects such as gender equality and access to water, as well as new areas such as environmental protection. It also foresees an estimated mobilization of Spanish resources of 160 million euros channeled through various cooperation instruments, both reimbursable and non-reimbursable. At this stage, according to Foreign Affairs, Spanish Cooperation in Peru will concentrate its efforts on achieving inclusive, innovative and environmentally friendly economic development, improving the living conditions of the urban and rural population through access to water and sanitation services, health and employment, and democratic and equal coexistence, free of gender violence and discrimination. The previous MAP 2019-2022, which was extended until 2024, was signed by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the then President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, at the Moncloa Palace, during the Peruvian president's state visit to Madrid. In addition, the agreement for the Promotion of Spanish will contribute to establishing the bases of collaboration to strengthen the recognition and presence of our common language in diplomacy and in international organizations, especially in the United Nations System. Albares also conveyed to Schialer Spain's full support to ensure the success of the International Congress of the Spanish Language, which will be held in the Peruvian city of Arequipa in 2025. Furthermore, the two foreign ministers reviewed economic and commercial relations, cultural relations, development cooperation and the regional agenda between the two countries. With more than 500 Spanish companies operating in Peru in a wide number of sectors, and being the second largest investor in the country, Albares highlighted the importance of the upcoming start of negotiations to conclude a new bilateral double taxation agreement. In addition, he underlined Spain's support for Peru's entry into the OECD, as well as the interest of Spanish companies in strengthening their investment in the country. <h5><strong>Other meetings</strong></h5> Apart from Albares, Schialer was received this Friday by the Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, who recalled on her X account that “relations between Spain and Peru are solid and with great potential”, with an annual bilateral trade of more than 2.6 billion euros. “Spain leads investments in Peru, with a stock of 5.141 billion euros, she added.” The Peruvian foreign minister also met with the Spain-Peru Council Foundation, where he explained to Spanish businessmen “the business and investment opportunities that Peru offers to the world,” according to the Foreign Ministry. He also highlighted the 22 preferential trade agreements in force that integrate Peru into world trade and addressed the negotiations that Peru and Spain will restart in 2025 for the signing of an Agreement to Eliminate Double Taxation and to Prevent Tax Evasion and Avoidance. In addition, Elmer Schialer held a meeting with the Ibero-American Secretary General (SEGIB), Andrés Allamand, to whom he highlighted the role of the SEGIB “in channeling cooperation” and welcomed the adoption of the Action Program at the recent Ibero-American Summit in Ecuador, which was not attended by the President of Peru, Dina Boluarte (nor by any of the Latin American leaders, except for the host, Daniel Noboa), because she preferred to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, held around the same time in Lima. On Thursday, the Peruvian ambassador to Spain, Luis Iberico, accompanied by the foreign minister, signed a Letter of Intent with Miguel Falomir, director of the Museo Nacional del Prado, for the development of cultural exchanges. After the signing, Schialer, accompanied by the director Miguel Falomir and other authorities, visited the Museum's Restoration Workshop, where two 18th century Lima paintings were restored.
