Business, Politics

Peru’s Alan García calls Canadian Prime Minister Harper and U.S. President George Bush prior to G20 and APEC meetings

Peru President Alan García had a telephone conversation Wednesday with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss Peru’s economic position in the global financial crisis.

“I had the opportunity to speak with Prime Minister Stephen Harper this afternoon,” said García, “because he is consulting a number of countries about the anti-crisis measures they have adopted (ahead of) the big reunion in Washington.”

State news agency Andina reported that the discussion will be commented by Harper during the upcoming G-20 Financial Summit in Washington, scheduled for November 15.

“I reminded him,” García said, “since he has also signed the free trade agreement, that he must open his market, which is of great importance (for our products).”

On Tuesday, García also had a telephone conversation with President George W. Bush to discuss issues related to next week’s 16th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit, or APEC, to be held in Lima, and on the Peru-U.S. free trade agreement.

“I had the opportunity to speak with President George Bush to tell him that we appreciate him for the way he supported Peru and believed in us over the span of his two administrations,” said García. “It is thanks to him, crisis or no crisis, that we will have a huge open market for our products.”

Both Harper and Bush are scheduled to attend the APEC Summit to be held in Lima November 22-23.

Although an invitation was extended last week to President-elect Barack Obama, it is unclear whether he plans to attend.

APEC members include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, South Korea, the United States, Philippines, China’s Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam.

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