PM ANWAR TO RECEIVE PERU'S EL SOL MEDAL ON HISTORIC LATIN AMERICA VISIT – AMBASSADOR

From M. Saraswathi

LIMA (Peru), Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will receive Peru’s highest honour, the "El Sol del Peru", in recognition of his role as Head of Government during his first official visit to the Latin American nation since assuming office in 2022.

The visit, which includes Anwar’s participation in the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) from Nov 14 to 16, is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Peru, according to Malaysian Ambassador to Peru Ahmad Irham Ikmal Hisham.

Anwar, also serving as Minister of Finance, is scheduled to arrive in Lima at 11.50 pm on Nov 12 (12.50 pm Malaysia time, Nov 13) for his official visit.

“During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra to discuss avenues for enhanced cooperation between Malaysia and Peru,” Ahmad Irham said in a press conference here on Monday.

The meeting will be held at Peru’s Presidential Palace, the Palacio de Gobierno.

Topics of discussion are expected to include trade and investment, the status of bilateral relations, and potential new collaborations in the halal industry, infrastructure development, education and culture, the ambassador added.

Anwar will be joined by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, and Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, along with senior Government officials.

The leaders will also exchange views on regional and multilateral issues, particularly regarding ASEAN and APEC, and are expected to witness the signing of several memorandums of understanding on cooperation in gastronomy and halal industry development.

Meeting with TikTok, Google

The Prime Minister is also set to hold a roundtable discussion with leading Peruvian industrialists to promote business opportunities, especially in the renewable energy and digital industries.

"Representatives of globally renowned companies TikTok and Google are scheduled to meet the Prime Minister," Ahmad Irham said.

Under the theme "Empower. Include. Grow.", the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM), hosted by Peru, will focus on strengthening trade and investment, innovation, digitisation, and sustainable growth.

This marks the third time Peru has hosted the AELM, following previous sessions in 2008 and 2016.

The Prime Minister's engagements at the AELM include attending the APEC CEO Summit on Nov 14, where he will also participate as a panellist in the "Opportunities and Challenges in the AI Revolution" session.

On Nov 15, he will join the APEC Leaders' Informal Dialogue with Guests and the APEC Economic Leaders' Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

"During the AELM Settlement Session on Nov 16, the Prime Minister will deliver Malaysia's intervention. 

"Additionally, he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other APEC economies, including Japan and New Zealand," Ahmad Irham said.

As a founding member of APEC, Malaysia's active role in the AELM underscores its ongoing commitment to fostering economic cooperation, promoting shared prosperity, and encouraging inclusive development across the Asia Pacific region.

Anwar will also outline Malaysia's priorities under the MADANI Economy framework, focusing on inclusiveness, sustainable development and enhanced cooperation for collective benefit, said Ahmad Irham.

"In addition, the Prime Minister will consistently advocate for Global South issues and underscore the importance of economic integration in boosting high-impact investment and sustainable trade."

Total trade between Malaysia and Peru from January to July 2024 stood at RM1.16 billion, an increase of 36.3 per cent from RM847.7 million over the same period in 2023.

APEC, an intergovernmental forum comprising 21 member economies around the Pacific Rim, promotes free trade in the Asia Pacific, representing nearly 40 per cent of the world's population, almost half of global trade, and over 60 per cent of the global economy.

Malaysia is among APEC's 12 founding members, alongside Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United States, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Subsequent members include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico and Papua New Guinea in 1993, Chile in 1994, and Peru, Russia, and Vietnam in 1998, bringing full membership to 21 economies.

-- BERNAMA