Peru President Alan García, who has repeatedly said that Peru is “a victim of international communism,” met Monday with Chinese Vice-President and the head of the Communist Party’s Propaganda Department, Liu Yunshan.
“President García was very sincere and friendly,” said Liu, one of 24 members of the Politburo, the most influential group of politicians in the Communist Party. “We exchanged thoughts about common interests, and it has been a very positive reunion.”
Last June, García accused “international communism” of fomenting chaos in Peru, shortly after violent clashes in Bagua – the worst crisis since García took office in 2006 – left 22 people dead.
It seems, however, that Garcia’s recent accusations – including the manipulation of indigenous protesters by outside agitators, widely understood to mean Venezuela and Bolivia – have not hindered Peru-China relations.
In November, García and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, wrapped talks to seal a free trade pact ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
On the Taiwan issue, Garcia has always firmly adhered to the one-China policy and, in March 2008, even some of his staunchest supporters where taken aback when Garcia concluded an official visit to China by expressing support for the Chinese crackdown against Buddhist monks in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.
“The Peruvian people are always on the side of the Chinese and firmly supports China in its just cause for national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Garcia told Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
