Ottawa – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, travelled to Santiago, Chile, for a bilateral visit, and to Lima, Peru, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Annual Ministerial Meeting.
While in Santiago she met with the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, to build on the long-standing friendship, strengthened by people-to-people ties, between Canada and Chile. They discussed collaboration on shared priorities, including climate change, inclusive economic growth, gender equality and regional and global security.
While in Chile, Minister Joly met with Canadian companies operating in the country to discuss Canadian investment in critical minerals. She also visited a local community in Valparaíso with Minister of Health Ximena Aguilera and the Pan American Health Organization to see first-hand the benefits of Canada-Chile cooperation on wildfire prevention and recovery. Finally, Minister Joly signed a memorandum of understanding with Minister of Agriculture Esteban Valenzuela on wildland fire cooperation.
From November 13 to 15, during the APEC Annual Ministerial Meeting in Peru, Minister Joly engaged with her Indo-Pacific partners to advance Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy related to inclusive trade and economies, especially for Indigenous Peoples, women, and small- and medium-sized business owners, and to support green growth and environmental sustainability. These priorities will unlock economic opportunities and secure good-paying jobs for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
On the margins of APEC, Minister Joly also met with the Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmer Schialer, to deepen cooperation between Canada and Peru and advance shared commitments to democracy, human rights protection and multilateral cooperation.
“Canada has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Chile and Peru that I hope to build on during this visit. At APEC, I look forward to continuing Canada’s important work and engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and collaborating with other countries to address the pressing global issues facing us today.” – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister Joly will accompany Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will participate in the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima from November 15 to 16, 2024.