Paraguay willing to engage in trade with China, provided it doesn't involve severing ties with Taiwan

(CNA Paraguay, July 30, International News) Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez stated today that Paraguay is willing to establish trade relations with China, as long as it does not require severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

According to AFP, leaders of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) are holding a summit in Paraguay, preparing to formally launch trade negotiations with Japan. This South American regional bloc signed a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) in January of this year.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva revealed during the summit that trade negotiations with China are also in preparation.

Paraguay is Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in South America and the only member of Mercosur that has not established diplomatic relations with China.

Ramirez stated at the meeting held in the outskirts of Asuncion, "As long as it does not require severing Paraguay's existing diplomatic relations with Taiwan as a prerequisite, Paraguay does not refuse to establish trade relations with China."

He emphasized, "Without political conditions, we have no restrictions on engaging in economic and trade cooperation with China."

China, on the other hand, urged Paraguay to "make the right choice" and break diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena also expressed dissatisfaction at the summit with the free trade agreement reached between the EU and Mercosur after 25 years.

According to the agreement, the EU will provide Mercosur with import quotas at preferential tariffs, and Mercosur will then decide how to allocate them among its member states.

Pena called for Mercosur to distribute the quotas equally among its member states before the EU ratifies the agreement, stating, "If Mercosur wants to have credibility externally, it must first be fair internally." (Compiled by Liu Wenyu) 1150701

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