Chile and Peru continue to have normal bilateral relations despite a lawsuit over a maritime border dispute filed by Peru at the Hague-based International Court of Justice, a Chilean government official said Sunday.

"We have always said that Chile handles the arguments it faces in the Hague with great calm and that they must not interfere with other projects within our bilateral relationship," said Chilean government spokesperson Carolina Toha.

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet and her Peruvian counterpart Alan Garcia met on Saturday on the sidelines of the fifth Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Chile's Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said that during the two presidents' meeting, Bachelet told Garcia Chile is willing to maintain an intelligent relationship with Peru.

Fernandez said Garcia proposed that beyond what was happening in the court, business, trade and investment could be maintained in its normal course.

Peru has demanded Chile return 38,000 km of sea in the Pacific Ocean. However, Chile insists the maritime borders were already established in former agreements. Peru argues that those are not border demarcation deals but fishing agreements.