The King and Queen of Spain welcomed the President and First Lady of Peru for a State Visit this week.
President Martín Alberto Vizcarra and his wife, Maribel Díaz Cabello, were in Spain to help strengthen relations between their countries and to also attend the opening of the 38th edition of the International Contemporary Art Fair -ARCOmadrid, of which Peru is the guest country.
Upon their arrival in Madrid, President Vizcarra and First Lady Cabello were welcomed with the Peruvian and Spanish national anthems, a 21-gun salute, and then President Vizcarra reviewed the Royal Guard Battalion. Following this, the couple enjoyed a Royal Guard parade.
© Casa de SM el Rey
King Felipe and President Vizcarra then held meetings at Zarzuela Palace, attended by both the Spanish and Peruvian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, the Spanish Ambassador of Peru, and the Peruvian Ambassador of Spain.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia then hosted a lunch for the Peruvian First Couple.
At the state banquet on Wednesday evening, King Felipe spoke about Spain’s ties to Peru, saying that it always has Spain’s support and “that is not a rhetorical manifestation.”
King Felipe continued, “In the course of this State Visit, our bilateral cooperation will be strengthened with the signing of an important number of agreements on very diverse issues: from the management of natural disasters to the cooperation in matters of heritage, through the facilitation of the mobility of our youngest citizens.”
On Thursday, the King and Queen of Spain and the President and First Lady of Peru officially opened the 38th edition of the International Contemporary Art Fair-ARCOmadrid. The couples toured the exhibitions featured inside, including ones dedicated to “Peru in Arc” and “Gastronomic Peru.”
Their Majesties at the opening of the 38th edition of the International Contemporary Art Fair-ARCOmadrid. © Casa de SM el Rey
Peruvian artists included in the art fair include 80M2 Livia Benavides, Alexander and Bonin, Barbara Thumm, Married Santapau, Paseo, Elba Benitez Forum, Ginberg, Henrique Faria Buenos Aires, Impakto, Juana de Aizpuru, ProjecteSD, Rolf Art, Revolver Gallery and Wu.
In the evening, President Vizcarra and First Lady Cabello hosted a reception that featured Peruvian music and dance in honour of King Felipe and Queen Letizia at the Royal Palace of El Pardo, where they stayed during the State Visit.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia presented the First Couple with a photo album of pictures to mark the end of the State Visit.
