Asunción, Agencia IP.- President Santiago Peña assured that Paraguay «has no objections» to a potential negotiation between Mercosur and China, as Uruguay proposed. However, he reaffirmed that «there is no possibility of breaking relations with Taiwan.»
«We are not closed to an agreement with China,» the President said when approached by the media at the Palacio de López. Paraguay is a member of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which has an agreement with China,» he noted as an example.
Paraguay believes that Mercosur can negotiate trade agreements with any country. Still, these must be done as a bloc established by the Treaty of Asunción. Regarding its diplomatic relations with Taiwan, he emphasized that they are solid and will not be broken.
During the Mercosur summit on past Monday in Asunción, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou highlighted the current concord among member countries and announced that he would relaunch dialogue mechanisms with China.
Relations with Brazil and Panama
President Peña held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Panama, José Raul Mulino, and Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, on the occasion of their presence at the summit in Asunción.
With Panama, Peña indicated that there is an interest in closer ties to ensure access to more international markets for Paraguayan products, taking advantage of the Central American country’s geographical position and air connectivity.
Paraguay seeks closer ties with this part of the continent, referring to his bilateral meeting with Mulino and his participation in the inaugurations of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
The bilateral agenda with Brazil is broad, and during Monday’s meeting, topics such as negotiations for the revision of Annex C were discussed, with a commitment to reach an agreement by the end of the year, he recalled.
Security issues, where there is fruitful cooperation, and the increase in the trade balance were also discussed.