MOSCOW, May 29 (Itar-Tass) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to have talks with his Peruvian counterpart Rafael Roncagliolo.
Last year, Roncagliolo was unable to take part in a meeting with Lavrov during the latter man’s visit to Lima, as he was ill.
Now the sides are going to have a detailed discussion of general issues of cooperation in the field of trade and investment, as well as in fighting with terrorism and drug trafficking.
The two ministers will also look at the situation in Syria and Iran and will consider bilateral cooperation within the format of international organizations.
“This visit is especially important for bilateral relations, as it is held in the run-up to the Vladivostok summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in which Peru is going to take part,” Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
“With account of this fact, Lavrov and Roncagliolo will consider the prospects for bilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.
“Special attention will be given to the economic issues, since Russian-Peruvian trade remains at a level far below its actual potential,” Lukashevich said.
“Expansion and diversification of the trade volume, which stood at a mere $ 726 million in 2011, remains a priority task in this sphere,” he said.
Lukashevich singled out space technologies, peaceful use of the atomic energy, healthcare, agricultural research, and cooperation between universities and student exchange programs as the most promising areas of cooperation in science and technologies.
“Upon the results of the talks, the two ministers are expected to sign an agreement on the equivalence and mutual recognition of diplomas, researchers’ degrees and other documents certifying education,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
“This will have significance for many Peruvians who received higher education at Soviet and then Russian universities and colleges, and for the expansion of bilateral contacts in that sphere,” Lukashevich said.
Earlier, the two countries signed an agreement on partnership and collaboration, as well as agreements on peaceful utilization of nuclear power, cultural and educational cooperation, and prevention/elimination of emergency situations.
Russia and Peru are cooperating quite successfully in the energy sector.
Peru’s exports to Russia are dominated by coffee, wool, cotton, textiles, lead and zinc concentrate, and marine products.
Mineral fertilizers make up 90% of Russian exports to Peru.