Paraguay president Peña in PH to boost ties
President Marcos will welcome Paraguay President Santiago Peña Palacios, who begins an official three-day visit on Monday following his arrival in Manila on Sunday.
This is the first visit to the Philippines by a head of state from the Latin American country southwest of Brazil, after diplomatic ties were established between the Philippines and Paraguay on Dec. 12, 1962. Peña’s visit is at the invitation of Mr. Marcos.
Despite decades of diplomatic ties, Manila does not yet have a full embassy in Paraguay. Instead, the Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires holds jurisdiction as well over Argentina’s neighboring states of Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay.
The Philippines also maintains an honorary consulate general in Paraguay’s capital Asunción.
Economist, finance minister
Peña and Mr. Marcos are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting on trade and investment, agriculture and other areas.
An economist who had served at his country’s central bank as well as the International Monetary Fund, Peña, 47, had also served as finance minister from 2015 to 2017 under the administration of then President Horacio Cartes.
On Monday, the Paraguayan leader will first lay a wreath of flowers at the monument of national hero Jose Rizal at Rizal Park, before being accorded official honors in Malacañang, where he and Mr. Marcos will hold talks and also sign agreements on various areas of cooperation.
‘Close attention to Asia’
According to Malacañang, Paraguay is an emerging partner of the Philippines in Latin America, with both countries sharing common values in history, international cooperation, democracy and rule of law.
The Palace also said Peña’s official visit is part of the Philippines’ continued efforts “to broaden its engagement with Latin American partners and diversify its economic partnerships.”
Paraguay’s state information agency quoted Peña as saying that the Philippines represents an “interesting market that Paraguay wants to strengthen ties with” in Asia.
“Paraguay is paying close attention to Asia; we believe there is enormous potential,” he also said.
Before his visit to Manila, Peña was in Taiwan for an official visit from May 6 to 10.
Taiwan rolled out the red carpet for the Paraguayan leader to shore up relations with its only South American ally, as Beijing urged Asuncion to sever ties with Taipei.
Taipei has only 12 diplomatic allies after Beijing, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory, systematically poached the others in a bid to isolate the self-governed island.
Peña led a delegation of government officials and business representatives during his visit, describing Taiwan as a “fundamental partner” for his country. President Lai Ching-te officially welcomed Peña on Friday with military honors, including cannon salutes and red carpet, ahead of their meeting.
Peña said “Paraguay deeply values this relationship and reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting Taiwan in a strategic alliance based on shared values.”
China’s foreign ministry has urged Paraguay to “make the right choice” by cutting ties with Taiwan.
Maritime corridor
Paraguay’s state information agency also quoted Peña as saying that “The completion of the Bi-Oceanic Corridor will make the Asian market even more important, not only for Paraguay but for the entire [South American] continent.”
The Capricorn Bi-Oceanic Corridor is an infrastructure initiative connecting Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile, designed to enhance regional integration, boost trade efficiency and provide a transport link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. —WITH A REPORT FROM AFP
