Peru Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde has invited U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to the 16th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in Lima, reported state news agency Andina.
The APEC Summit is to be held in Lima November 22-23.
“We have invited U.S. president-elect (Barack Obama) to Peru,” said Belaunde, “but we don’t know, given the circumstances, if he’ll be able to make the APEC Summit.”
Obama is probably very busy assembling his Cabinet in this transitional period before he formally assumes office in January 2009, said Belaunde.
“The invitation (has been sent) and we are waiting for an answer,” he added. “It’s important that he come, but not necessarily for this event.”
A letter and invitation, congratulating Obama on his election win, was extended by Peru’s President Alan Garcia on Wednesday.
U.S. President George W. Bush is scheduled to attend the APEC Summit, together with other world leaders of the Pacific Basin countries, including Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China. Bush is to meet privately with García.
