(VOVWORLD) -The Peruvian government has deployed nearly 19,000 police and military personnel for the ongoing APEC Economic Leaders' Week, the largest international event that Peru has hosted in many years. 8,200 of them are responsible for security at the main APEC event venues, including the Peruvian National Theater, the Lima Convention Center, and the Peruvian Ministry of Culture Building.
The 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Week began last Sunday in Lima. The main event will be held later this week when leaders of the 21 APEC member economies will meet, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Nearly 20 executives of corporations and companies in the Fortune 500, are attending meetings and activities at APEC.
Five thousand police are tasked with ensuring security on the routes, while military forces are responsible for patrolling and protecting airspace and border crossings, especially at the Jorge Chavez International Airport in the capital Lima.
Carlos Lopez, chief of the Peruvian police group, said, “The safety of the leaders who come to our country for this international event will be guaranteed from the moment they set foot on Peruvian soil. A security capsule has been established for each leader from their arrival at the Jorge Chavez International Airport. The routes are security corridors that have been established until their arrival at the 19 hotels located in Sanro Isidro and Mara Flores districts of Lima.”
Many external security belts have also been set up including checkpoints at APEC event venues, at hotels where delegations are staying, and major roads in Lima. All unmanned aerial vehicles are prohibited from operating in the airspace of the capital. A number of avenues and stations in the center of Lima are closed from Wednesday to Saturday.
Workers in Lima and the neighboring provinces of Callao and Huaral have days off from Wednesday to Saturday. Schools and public administrative facilities in the affected areas have switched to online operations from Monday to Wednesday.
Demonstrations and large gatherings are banned around APEC venues and have been moved to more distant locations, such as San Martin Square and Military Square.