On November 23, 2024, Peru and Japan will officially implement a visa waiver agreement as part of the 2024-2033 Roadmap aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. This initiative follows the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Peru, concluding the APEC 2024 forum.
The agreement, reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic relationship that spans over 151 years. The elimination of visa requirements is expected to facilitate travel and enhance tourism between the two nations.
Beyond visa facilitation, the roadmap encompasses five key pillars: Political-Diplomatic, Economic, Bilateral Cooperation, Social and People-to-People Relations, and Defense and Security. The first pillar emphasizes strengthening high-level political dialogue to deepen collaboration across various government sectors.
The Economic pillar focuses on promoting and diversifying bilateral trade, leveraging existing agreements through bilateral events and trade missions to identify new business opportunities. Additionally, discussions on food security and illegal fishing are set to expand agro-industrial trade.
Annual meetings will be organized to explore investment opportunities in the energy and mining sectors, particularly concerning critical minerals. The roadmap also aims to support small and medium enterprises by facilitating knowledge sharing and enhancing tourism flows.
The third pillar promotes cooperation in gender equality, science and technology, climate change, environmental preservation, Antarctic research, and disaster risk prevention, among others, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The fourth pillar focuses on cultural, social, academic, and sports exchanges to foster stronger ties between the populations of both countries. The fifth pillar emphasizes defense cooperation in areas of mutual interest, formalized through a memorandum on defense exchanges.
A working group will be established to monitor the progress of these agreements, meeting annually to ensure compliance with the commitments outlined in the roadmap.