[Welcoming Leader From Distant Land]
The furthest country from Singapore is Ecuador. Singapore's antipode is the port city of Guayaquil. Almost as far away as Ecuador is Peru.

This morning, the Peruvian President Alain Garcia put on a lavish welcome ceremony for PM Lee Hsien Loong at the main city square of Lima on the site of the old Spanish Viceroy's palace. On one side is the grand cathedral which houses the tomb of the conquistadore Francisco Pizarro. Next to the cathedral is the official residence of the Archbishop which has an intricate Moorish facade. In the middle of the square is an old cast iron fountain which, once a year in July, spouts pisco rather than water.

PM's car (a Chinese Red Flag) went round the square taking the salute from what must be an elaborate honour guard of over a thousand men. His car was accompanied in procession in front and behind by ceremonial horsemen bearing pennants. Cannons boomed away twenty times scattering pigeons in all directions. When PM finally alighted onto a red carpet, there was the Peruvian President waiting for him on top of the steps. On both sides were guards in red and blue toy soldier uniforms with gold braids and epaulettes carrying long swords. The brass band played the Majulah in extra slow time but with feeling.

The Presidential Palace and the rooms inside are in baroque style and well-maintained. Lima was the seat of the Viceroy of the Spanish Empire in South America since the 16th century. In later centuries, new Vice Realms were established in Bogota and Buenos Aires.

After the bilateral meeting, PM was garlanded with Peru's national award and a big medal (with diamonds it was announced) was pinned on him. The lavish welcome ceremony and the award expressed a new friendship across the Pacific. A few months ago Singapore signed an FTA with Peru. Globalisation has made the world smaller.

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