Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in APEC 2024 Leaders' Summit and highlights the importance of fostering an open and inclusive international trade
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, is in Lima, Peru, alongside the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric Font, and the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations, Claudia Sanhueza, to participate in the Summit of Economic Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, APEC 2024.
The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized that the central issue is “how to have clear rules on international trade and avoid the protectionist tendencies that sometimes appear. And, on the other hand, how to ensure that the benefits of international trade reach more people, especially small and medium-sized enterprises or companies led by women”.
“These are all issues that President Boric is also raising in his two speeches at this summit,” he added.
This year the meeting has the slogan “Empower, include, grow” and defined three priorities: trade and investment for inclusive growth; innovation to promote the transition to a formal and global economy, as well as sustainable growth for resilient development.
This way, Chile seeks to consolidate its role as a strategic partner for key economies of the region and APEC member countries, as well as to reaffirm in this meeting its commitment to fair trade, sustainable development and collaboration to face current challenges.
During the day, authorities also met with the Chilean delegation of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to discuss investments in key sectors of the economy, sustainable development and international collaboration.
Bilateral meetings
In addition, the Foreign Affairs Minister accompanied President Gabriel Boric Font in bilateral meetings with the President of China, Xi Jinping; the President of Peru, Dina Boluarte, and they expect to meet tomorrow with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
“China is the main destination for Chile's exports and, obviously, it's a priority relationship due to the weight that China is assuming in the world economy. And, on the other hand, Canada is a country with which we have great affinities and which, in addition, last year was the main source of foreign investment in our country,” said Minister van Klaveren.
He also held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Reem Al Hashimy, with whom he discussed the desire to continue promoting greater economic integration, which was revitalized with the signing this year of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, laying the foundations for an ambitious shared trade agenda.
He also had a meeting with the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, with whom he agreed to continue deepening the trade relationship and expressed the interest of President Gabriel Boric Font in visiting Indonesia, a country with which will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations with Chile in 2025.
