Paraguay 'would love' more trade with China, but Taiwan better for development

Record ID: 1733789

  • Title: Paraguay 'would love' more trade with China, but Taiwan better for development
  • Date: 15th July 2023
  • Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (JULY 15, 2023) (REUTERS) PARAGUAY PRESIDENT ELECT, SANTIAGO PENA, LISTENING TO QUESTION PENA TALKING INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS JOURNALIST FILMING WITH PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARAGUAY PRESIDENT ELECT, SANTIAGO PENA, SAYING: “We have no constraints on doing trade with China. We would love to do more trade with PRC. But we are also looking to have the market of the U.S. open, we think that this is going to happen relatively soon, we are also working with Japan, which is also a very important market in the beef sector, and also Korea. I think that if we are able to diversify, we are going to be much better than if we were to export only to one market.” VARIOUS OF PENA LISTENING TO QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARAGUAY PRESIDENT ELECT, SANTIAGO PENA, SAYING: “Paraguay is a powerhouse on food production, but still on a very early stage. We provide very low value added to our goods. Grains, soy and beef. We need to advance in giving more value added and for that having a closer collaboration with Taiwan, puts us closer on a path to developing an industrial sector than we would have if we had relations with China.” PENA’S HAND ON ARM REST PENA LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARAGUAY PRESIDENT ELECT, SANTIAGO PENA, SAYING: “I feel so confident about our relation between Paraguay and Taiwan, that this is not subject to discussion, this is not subject to any economic collaboration and is not subject to who is going to be on the inauguration. We are fully committed, I am very happy of the discussion that we had in the last couple days and I am sure that the delegation will also be an opportunity to continue to engage in Asuncion.” VARIOUS OF SANTIAGO PENA GETTING UP AND POSING FOR PICTURES
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2023 11:55
  • Keywords: China Paraguay Santiago Pena Taiwan president-elect
  • Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
  • City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001731215072023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Paraguay "would love" to do more trade with China, but Taiwan offers the best bet for moving the largely agricultural economy up the value chain, the country's president-elect Santiago Pena said on Saturday (July 15) of his commitment to Taipei.
    Paraguay is the last South American country with formal relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. Honduras ended decades of ties in favour of Beijing this year and only 13 countries now recognise Taiwan.
    Pena had pledged during his election campaign to maintain more than six decades of relations with Taiwan despite pressure from the country's agricultural sector, which wants to open up lucrative Chinese markets to soybeans and beef. Pena told reporters that Paraguay cannot rely on a single market, as a small country does not have the same negotiating clout as Brazil or the United States and does not want to be flooded with Chinese goods while only being able to export raw materials.
    Pena will take office on August 15, but said he did not know whether President Tsai Ing-wen or Vice President William Lai who is running to succeed her in Taiwan's January elections, would come, though added he would be delighted to receive both or either.
    Taiwan's presidential office told Reuters that they were still in the planning stages of who would attend and would make an announcement once details are set.
    (Production: Fabian Hamacher)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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