MANILA – The Philippines and Paraguay on Monday agreed to deepen political, economic, and diplomatic cooperation during a historic visit by Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Palacios—the first by any Paraguayan head of state to the country.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed Peña in Malacañang, where both leaders discussed expanding trade, investment, and regional cooperation between Southeast Asia and South America despite being separated by nearly 19,000 kilometers.
Marcos described the visit as a milestone in bilateral relations and said the Philippines looks forward to reciprocating the gesture. Peña, meanwhile, called the Philippines a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia and confirmed Paraguay’s intention to join the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
Both leaders emphasized shared principles such as respect for sovereignty, peaceful dispute settlement, and adherence to international law, even as their countries maintain differing diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan.
The visit also produced agreements on diplomatic training cooperation and visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders, aimed at strengthening tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Economically, Paraguay welcomed the Philippines’ market access for its meat exports, while both sides explored new opportunities for agricultural and food trade. Marcos likewise suggested potential Philippine exports such as tuna, sardines, and milkfish.
The two presidents also discussed broader ASEAN–Mercosur engagement and long-term cooperation in trade and infrastructure linkages.
Marcos said both nations see each other as regional gateways, opening opportunities for stronger intercontinental partnerships in the years ahead.
ia/xf
