Chile and Peru celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations in Machu Picchu

Chile and Peru marked the 200th anniversary of their diplomatic relations yesterday, Sunday, with a visit by the foreign ministers of both countries to the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu in Peru’s Cusco region (southeast), the Chilean Foreign Ministry announced.

The Chilean Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the head of the ministry, Minister Antonia Urrejola, traveled to Peru on Sunday to meet her Peruvian counterpart César Landa at the historic citadel of Machu Picchu, declared a World Heritage Site in 1983.

Both authorities unveiled a plaque at the site honoring Chilean poet Pablo Neruda to celebrate the bicentennial of their friendship as well as “the 70th anniversary of the publication” of the poet’s book “Canto general,” which contains verses inspired by the citadel and its archaeological heritage.

“Chileans and Peruvians reaffirm the depth and permanence of our cultural and friendship ties, as well as our constant vocation and will to continue strengthening the bonds that unite us and strive for a common future for the benefit of the development and well-being of our peoples,” Minister Urrejola said during the ceremony.

The officials also highlighted Neruda’s visit to Machu Picchu in 1943, a trip that later inspired the 1971 Nobel Laureate in Literature to write the poem “Alturas de Machu Picchu,” one of his most famous works.

The foreign ministers also signed a joint declaration highlighting good bilateral relations, international cooperation, and cultural exchanges.

They also affirmed that bilateral activities would continue within the framework of the IV Meeting of the President and the Binational Cabinet on November 28-29 in the Chilean city of Santiago.

According to the Chilean government, bilateral relations with Peru are one of the most important in the framework of Chilean foreign policy, given the proximity between the two border countries.

This link is based on maintaining peace and security, bilateral integration, and cooperation in the political and economic fields.