Asunción, Agencia IP.- Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano stated that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s proposal to advance negotiations between Mercosur and mainland China does not face opposition from Paraguay, «as long as there are no conditions affecting Paraguay’s diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.»
Historically, Uruguay has proposed negotiating with China at various Mercosur summits. During this Wednesday’s summit in Asunción, Lula da Silva stated that following the launch of negotiations with Japan, the bloc hopes to begin similar talks with China «very soon.»
Speaking at a press conference after the summit, the Paraguayan foreign minister reaffirmed the government’s position that it does not oppose a trade agreement between Mercosur and China.
«Mainland China is a member of the World Trade Organization, which means it accepts the terms and conditions of international negotiations,» Ramírez explained.
«Paraguay does not refuse to establish trade relations with China, provided there is no condition attached to its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan,» he said.
The last time Paraguay hosted the Mercosur Summit, in July 2024, President Santiago Peña expressed the same position, stating that «there is no possibility of breaking relations with Taiwan.»