Asuncion, 9 April 2022 (TDI): The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship of the Argentine Republic, Santiago Cafiero, visited Paraguay to develop bilateral ties.
The Foreign Minister of Paraguay, Euclides Acevedo Candia, received Santiago Cafiero on his first visit to Paraguay.
🇵🇾-🇦🇷 Comunicado conjunto de los ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de la República del #Paraguay, @euclides_py, y de la República #Argentina, @SantiagoCafiero, tras la visita oficial del canciller argentino a nuestro país.
➡️ https://t.co/HQT7XvmN4O pic.twitter.com/9NTgrPswo0— Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (@mreparaguay) April 8, 2022
Content of the Meeting
The officials evaluated the state of bilateral relations. They assessed the level of dialogue and cooperation during the pandemic as positive and satisfactory. In addition, they reiterated their willingness to continue working together to enhance the integration of the two states.
The Foreign Ministers expressed their commitment to the MERCOSUR integration process. Moreover, they expressed the will to work together to consolidate the Customs Union. They agreed on achieving greater complementarity between the bloc’s internal and external agenda, to deepen integration as a “collective platform to face global challenges.”
Furthermore, Argentine Foreign Minister informed about a decision to reopen border crossings in a “scheduled and staggered” way. Paraguayan Foreign Minister expressed interest in the full opening of borders which will facilitate cross-border movement and economic recovery.
Meanwhile, they approved a schedule of meetings of the main bilateral mechanisms. They prioritized the Joint Technical Group on Infrastructure, the Joint Commission for Technical and Scientific Cooperation, the Joint Administrative Commission of the Agreement for the Establishment of a Free Zone in the Port of Rosario for Paraguay, the working meeting on River Navigation issues, and the Ad Hoc Working Group for Monitoring the water quality of the Rivers Shared between the two countries.
Likewise, they decided to strengthen cooperation and coordination measures to fight drug trafficking and other related crimes. The national representatives signed an agreement on air services to enable the future establishment of new services.
Both officials agreed on the importance of strengthening the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Finally, they agreed on the need to reinvigorate the multilateral system based on international law, solidarity, and cooperation.
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