The 16th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week will start in the Peruvian capital Lima Sunday. The following are some basic facts about Peru.
Peru, officially known as the Republic of Peru, is located in western South America. With an area of some 1,285,220 square km, Peru is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru's geography varies from the arid plains of the Pacific coast to the peaks of the Andes mountains and the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin. The country is divided into 25 regions and the Lima Province.
The Peruvian population, estimated at 27 million, is multi-ethnic, including Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians.
The country's main spoken language is Spanish. A significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages.
With a GDP of around 96 billion U.S. dollars, Peru's economic pillars include agriculture, fishing, mining, and manufacturing of products such as textiles.
Peru, which has maintained a steady economic growth in recent years, has about 34 billion dollars in foreign reserves largely thanks to the continued momentum of mining and construction.
Peru was home to the Norte Chico civilization, one of the oldest in the world, and to the Inca Empire, the largest state in Pre-Columbian America.
The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and established a colonial region that covered most of South America.
On July 28, 1821, Peru proclaimed its independence.
Source:Xinhua
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