ASUNCION : Paraguayan President Santiago Pena mentioned on Wednesday that he was “totally open” to commerce offers with China through South American commerce bloc Mercosur, regardless of his nation’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Paraguay’s long-standing diplomatic help for Taiwan has hindered native farmers’ grains exports to China, which claims sovereignty over the self-governed island. Paraguay is the final South American nation with formal relations with Taiwan, which strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims.
Mercosur, a customs union additionally together with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, has been in talks to finalize a long-awaited commerce take care of the European Union, however has additionally mentioned a possible commerce take care of China.
“Our place with China is one among complete openness,” Pena mentioned of Paraguay’s place inside Mercosur, including that the impediment was moderately China not accepting its recognition of Taiwan. “We’re in favour of advancing commerce agreements,” he added within the interview with Reuters.
Mercosur officers held a dialogue with Chinese language counterparts on Aug 12 in Uruguay’s capital.
“I see prudence on Brazil’s aspect,” Pena mentioned of the attainable China settlement, which he emphasised that he supported. “I feel that essentially the most is Uruguay and we accompany this effort to have a dialog as a bloc.”
China’s overseas ministry and the Chinese language embassy in Uruguay didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
