Guatemala City, by Brenda Larios -AGN-. Last week, four European countries hosted visits, meetings, and agreements reached by President Bernardo Arévalo as part of his first international trip as President of Guatemala.
The Guatemalan president addressed topics such as the fight against corruption, transparency, foreign investment, migration, security, bilateral cooperation, culture, and sports.
His international trips through Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain included meetings with high representatives to strengthen foreign policy.
¡Con inversión y comercio estratégico, nuestra economía sale adelante!
— Bernardo Arévalo (@BArevalodeLeon) February 23, 2024
Nos reunimos con representantes de la @CEOE_ES, con quienes hemos destacado el gran potencial de Guatemala como socio estratégico de España. 🇬🇹🤝🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/xq3RV7P9jr
Germany
President Arévalo started his trip by participating in the Munich Security Conference. His address focused on the corruption that had penetrated public institutions and the determination of his administration to fight it.
The president also met with the Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. According to the German Embassy in Guatemala, they strengthen ties on security and international cooperation issues.
Reunión del presidente @BArevalodeLeon con autoridades de @UNmigration sobre retos migratorios y cooperación internacional. https://t.co/2Gvo1NQgFu
— Gobierno Guatemala (@GuatemalaGob) February 17, 2024
France
Subsequently, the president traveled to Paris, France, on February 19, where he was received by his counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. Both presidents will promote a proper transition at a global level and strengthen bilateral ties.
President Arévalo visited the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to strengthen economic relations. During the meeting, they strengthened economic welfare policies for Guatemala to move forward with investment and development.
Following the visit’s agenda, the president met with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization authorities on cultural issues.
Merci beaucoup, Président @EmmanuelMacron!
— Bernardo Arévalo (@BArevalodeLeon) February 19, 2024
Nuestras naciones comparten ideales democráticos que nos permitirán consolidar puentes de cooperación. 🇬🇹🤝🇲🇫 pic.twitter.com/adO89YNbQA
Belgium
In Belgium, President Arévalo met with the European Council President, Charles Michel. They talked about strengthening bilateral relations in development, trade, investment, and the environment.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Martínez, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, signed a memorandum to reinforce the relationship between Guatemala and the European Union.
Una colaboración que abre nuevas puertas 🇬🇹🤝🇪🇺.
— Bernardo Arévalo (@BArevalodeLeon) February 20, 2024
Hemos firmado un memorando de entendimiento con la Unión Europea que marca el inicio de una cooperación más directa y segura. Guatemala da un paso firme para el fortalecimiento de las relaciones, la inversión y el desarrollo.… pic.twitter.com/LNWfkoT0aC
Switzerland
The president of Guatemala met with high representatives of the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee -COI- during his visit with a multilateral approach to Europe.
In his meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, they discussed the possibilities for collaboration.
An important point on the agenda was his visit to the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, 65 kilometers east of Geneva. Through the social network X, President Bernardo Arévalo indicated that the IOC committed to working to lift the sanction on the Guatemalan Olympic Committee.
In this way, Guatemala will be able to carry the national flag in the Olympic Games after being forced to participate with a neutral flag in the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador 2023 and the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile 2023.
Nuestros atletas volverán a portar con orgullo la bandera de Guatemala en unos Juegos Olímpicos. 🇬🇹🏅
— Bernardo Arévalo (@BArevalodeLeon) February 21, 2024
Con mucha alegría les comparto que el @iocmedia se ha comprometido a trabajar para levantar lo antes posible la suspensión. Gracias, Señor Tomas Bach, agradezco su apoyo y… pic.twitter.com/KQ27eBSKGB
Spain
To conclude his trip, President Arévalo traveled to Spain, where he met with King Felipe VI at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid in response to an invitation from the Spanish Crown. Dr. Lucrecia Peinado, First Lady, accompanied the president to this meeting.
They also met with the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, at the Cibeles Palace. Later, the president held a bilateral meeting with the Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez.
Regarding investment and the economy, President Arévalo participated in the Spain-Guatemala Business Meeting, held this Friday at the Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales in Madrid.
Los Reyes, en el almuerzo en honor del presidente y la primera dama de la República de Guatemala ofrecido con motivo de su visita a España en el Palacio Real de Madrid
— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) February 22, 2024
➡️https://t.co/2GkLKV4Jhw pic.twitter.com/vRKwnYsITS
