APEC Peru 2008 news: China president arrived - Bush on his way to Lima - APEC in numbers

China's president Hu Jintao was the first of 21 leaders to arrive in Lima.

Peruvian Indigenous soldiers and Hu Jintao (Don't we Peruvians and Chinese look alike?) Photo by AFP

The Peruvian government set a strict security plan to protect the Chinese leader - including free access (!) for a vlogger to actually videotape the Chinese delegation as they drove by the remodeled streets of Lima, and Jintao's entrance to a luxurious hotel:

On Wednesday China's Jintao and Peru's Alan Garcia sat down to finish details about a soon-to-be China Peru free trade agreenment. China's CCTVreports:

(Notice the 1973 convertible car where both presidents drive around a military-surrounded main square of Lima, where a bunch of poor people were placed with flags of both countries)

US president George W. Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso will arrive today. AFP reports: "APEC leaders gather for economy-dominated summit"

LIMA (AFP) — Leaders of the 21-member APEC group were on Friday to seek ways of turning back the world economic crisis as they gathered here amid unrelenting bad news from the Asia-Pacific region.

US President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso were among leaders due to arrive on Friday in Peru's capital Lima, with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev landing Saturday for talks set to be dominated by the crisis.

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Bush is on his way to Lima and Voice of America reports from the White House: "Bush Travels to Peru for Final Pacific Rim Summit"

Now, with the nation in the midst of a financial crisis, he is making his last appearance at the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

White House aides say the president will urge APEC to endorse steps already being taken to boost the global economy. They indicate he will likely focus on the need to expand trade worldwide and open markets.

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Philippines president Gloria Arrollo on her way to Lima, but her husband had to stay in Japan as he became seriously ill.

In the blogs, Inca Kola News posted this amazing photo, in what he calls "APEC Peru Summit 2008: What you need to know if visiting Latin America's worst capital city" Read the post here


But Peruvian authorities don't want the APEC visitors to see that part of Lima, instead they are holding the events in the fancy part of town, where the few rich Peruvians -who are benefiting from the current economic policies- live. Here is a video made by a vlogger who likes Alan Garcia obviously. The music is from Damaris:

APEC leaders already in Lima

They have arrived: Viet Nam's Nguyen Minh Triet, the Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, newly elected New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak



This map -by AFP- shows the 21 countries that are members of this powerful forum, which includes half of the planet's population and economic resources:



APEC in numbers

According to its official website:

• From 1998 to 2006 Peru exports to the APEC Economies increased 360% and the imports 69%.
• In the same period of time, APEC represented the 58% from 52% of total exports. On the other hand, imports since APEC changed from 53% to 48% of the total.
• From 2002 to 2006 tourist arrivals to Peru coming from the member APEC Economies increased 69% with a 12% annual growth during 2005 and 2006.
• Seven out of the 20 main commercial partners of Peru in 2006 belong to APEC-
• The APEC Member Economies represent the 60% of world GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
• During the APEC Women in Export Trade meeting, held in Cerro Juli, Arequipa, business of 1.5 million were closed.
• APEC meetings will bring over 10 thousand visitors through out the year.
• Senior Officials from all 21 APEC Member Economies have been analyzing 30 FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) subscribed between the APEC Economies with the support of the IDB (International Development Bank).

Blah, blah, blah. Any data on poverty levels in Peru? You won't find them in the APEC Peru website for obvious reasons.

Check these interesting news from the official blog of APEC Peru 2008.





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