Russia and Peru prepare to sign series of intergovernmental and interdepartmental cooperation documents
The fifth session of the Russian–Peruvian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation and Fisheries took place in Lima, Peru on January 25–26.
The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Head of the Federal Agency for Fishery, and Chairman of the Russian side of the commission Ilya Shestakov, while the Peruvian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Armando Raúl Patiño Alvístur. During the session, the commission considered the current state and future prospects of the bilateral trade and economic partnership, with a focus on concrete projects. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the direction of the political dialogue between Russia and Peru, and discussed the status of bilateral relations, including agreements recently reached following the meeting between the presidents of the two countries on November 30, 2015.
The advancement of bilateral cooperation was discussed by three separate working groups; on trade, investment, and industrial partnership; on high-tech cooperation; and on cooperation in the agricultural and fishing industries.
Discussions took place on plans to draw up memoranda on cooperation in the fields of veterinary and phytosanitary oversight, and on agreeing the technical criteria for access to the Russian market for food products. Cooperation in the fishing industry was reviewed, and in particular the implementation of agreements on partnership between Kaliningrad State Technical University and the Technological Institute of Production of Peru, and between the Fishing Technological Institute of Peru and AtlantNIRO on optimizing the use of fishery resources.
The possibility of establishing a Russian trade representation in Peru, cooperation on customs issues, and proposals by state corporation Rostec on developing a partnership with Peru in industrial production and by Russian company Power Machines on energy cooperation were all discussed. Negotiations were also held on a new Agreement on the Equivalence and Mutual Recognition of Diplomas, Academic Degrees, and Documents Relating to Education, an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Peru and the Government of the Russian Federation on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and on the prospects for partnership in the global use of nuclear energy, nuclear medicine, and in the exploitation of space for peaceful aims.
Following the discussions, the parties agreed to finalize the draft documents and prepare them for signature.
The parties underlined their interest in developing cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Government of Peru in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed on October 6, 2015. The Russian side also expressed an interest in having a Peruvian delegation take part in the 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will take place on June 16–18, 2016.
During his stay in Lima, in addition to meeting Patiño Alvístur, the head of the Russian delegation Ilya Shestakov held meetings with Minister of Energy and Mines Rosa María Ortiz Ríos, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Blanca Magali Silva Velarde-Álvarez, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation César Francisco Sotomayor Calderón.
Summing up the session, Ilya Shestakov noted how productive the discussions had been, and commented on the breadth of the agenda for cooperation between Russia and Peru. “I hope that the agreements we have reached will provide further impetus for the development of our relationship in a wide range of fields”, said the head of the Russian delegation. “Making effective use of the tools for international cooperation, of which this intergovernmental commission is one, has particular significance in today’s climate. Productive partnership within the framework of this mechanism not only allows us to improve bilateral relations, but also contributes to solving the socio-economic challenges faced by our countries.”
Source: http://www.fish.gov.ru/press-tsentr/novosti/11557-rossiya-i-peru-gotovyatsya-k-zaklyucheniyu-ryada-mezhpravitelstvennykh-i-mezhvedomstvennykh-dokumentov-o-sotrudnichestve (Russian only)
