Peruvian President Alan García arrived today in Santiago with a message of solidarity for the Chilean people, along with 25 doctors and 30 tons of humanitarian help for those most damaged by last Saturday's earthquake.

"We share the pain of the Chilean people (...), we bring a message of fraternity, so that they know that we are at their service in order to support them in whatever they may need," said Alan García, who was received by the Chilean Chancellor, Mariano Fernández.

This visit by Alan García is the first one after Peru sued its neighbour in January 2009 at the International Court of Justice at The Hague due to maritime boundary issues, which Chile needs to respond before March 9.

"Peru has been a victim many times to quakes and catastrophes and knows that solidarity is needed," said García, who "following the indications of the Chilean government" arrived with a field hospital, a medical crew, and water purifications plants.

"We need to strengthen our fraternity, our closeness, and in these moments of need, work toward a true union of peoples," said the Peruvian leaders. Both countries came to a disagreement last November due to the arrest of an assistant intelligence official of the Peruvian Air Force that supposedly was caught spying for Chile.

"We share the pain that the Chilean people feel, it fills us with dismay to see what has happened and how nature has wroth these people that were advancing rapidly on the path to a strong democracy and technological and social development."

Alan García offered to establish a bridge by air from his country and use the southern cities of Tacna and Arequipa as bases for the shipment of humanitarian help by land to Chile.

On her part, the President of Chile, who met with the Peruvian leader after an aerial inspection of the province of Curicó, highlighted that "there is a clear sign of solidarity before a disaster that has devastated the country."

"This shows a good neighbour to neighbour relationship and solidarity that greatly honours the president and his people."

Bachelet thanked her Peruvian counterpart for the help he brought for the earthquake and tsunami survivors that shook a great part of Chilean territory.

Alan García, who also had planned to meet with President-elect Sebastián Piñera, said that all South American countries are convinced they will be witnesses of the rapid economic and social reconstruction of Chile after the disaster.