Paraguay is not against the bloc’s negotiations on a free trade agreement with China, but will not abandon relations with Taiwan, the country’s president, Santiago Peña, said at the Mercosur summit in Asunzón, ABC reported on July 9.
On July 8, the 64th summit of leaders of the member countries of the MERCOSUR bloc was held in the port of Asunción, under the interim presidency of Paraguay. Before the event, President Santiago Peña was consulted about Paraguay’s position regarding the interest of the regional bloc to begin negotiations with China on a free trade agreement.
Peña said the government’s position was that the agreement should be “a negotiation at the bloc level, not at the country level.”
“Therefore, we are not closed to negotiations as a bloc, but it is clear that we are not prepared to abandon our more than 66-year relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan).”said the head of state.
The statements of the head of state were supported by the country’s foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano. According to him, Paraguay as a bloc is “ready to move forward in negotiations related to the possibility of reaching an agreement with China.”
It should be noted that the declared intention of Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, to conclude a free trade agreement with the Asian giant, contradicts Paraguay’s current diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Paraguay is currently Taiwan’s only ally in South America and one of 12 countries that maintain diplomatic relations with the island.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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