MEMBERS of the Haworth Machu Picchu twinning group travelled to Parliament to attend a reception to celebrate the forming of an All Party Parliamentary Group with Peru.
The group thanked Keighley MP John Grogan, who approached Peruvian ambassador Juan Carlos Gamarra to help the Haworth group develop its contacts in Peru.
A spokesman for the twinning group explained: "Since Machu Picchu's mayor countersigned the twinning agreement in 2009 there has been letter exchanges between schools, opticians visiting a clinic in the Peruvian mountains, support for several other projects and help given to communities following flooding.
"We're seeking to re-establish our own twinning group's counterpart in Machu Picchu in order to build a strong and lasting friendship.
"The aim is to learn from each other through culture, music, sport, language, teacher exchanges and working parties. There are people in place eager to take this forward.
"With the changing face of Britain and changes to our place in the world this will be a valuable means of developing economic links, creating jobs and stimulating investment."
Commenting after the reception, Mr Grogan said: "Haworth and Machu Picchu are continents apart but share in common the fairly recent development of tourism as an important part of the local economy.
"I was delighted to be elected recently as the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Peru Group, and will do my best to try and help the revival of the twinning link."
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