On December 11, President of Paraguay Santiago Peña arrived in Tashkent for a 3-day official visit. The visit started a new chapter in Paraguay and Uzbekistan relations.
It is also important to highlight that the President of Paraguay became the first Latin American head of state to visit Uzbekistan, which makes the visit even more historic.
Uzbekistan and Paraguay established diplomatic relations in 2001. During the last two decades, Paraguay – Uzbekistan relations were quite limited.
There were no major high-level meetings, there was only a small amount of trade and the exchanges of letters during national holidays.
According to Uzbek state media, the trade turnover between Paraguay and Uzbekistan reached 700,000 USD in 2024.
However, in recent years, under Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s multi-vector foreign policy, which aims to strengthen ties with traditional partners while expanding the geography of Uzbekistan’s partnerships.
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The two leaders approached this meeting with the sense that distance is not a barrier when goals align. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev openly called the visit “historic,” reminding everyone that Paraguay had now become the first Latin American nation to send its head of state to Uzbekistan.
He spoke about Paraguay’s open economy, the stability of its development model, and recognized the achievements President Peña has made in his country, including maintaining around 5% inflation and a low unemployment rate of roughly 7%.
Mirziyoyev also emphasized that both nations are landlocked, and this shared reality creates a natural understanding of the challenges and ambitions that shape their economic policies.
President Peña’s speech reflected the same sincerity. He said he had long been waiting for this meeting and pointed out that even though Paraguay and Uzbekistan are far apart geographically, they are guided by similar aspirations – prosperity, stability, and modern development.
He also stressed that decades of Paraguayan experience, particularly in agriculture and energy, can now be matched with Uzbekistan’s expertise in industry, innovation, and regional connectivity.
Being landlocked, he added, is not a limitation but rather a reminder that countries like theirs must build smarter, more efficient partnerships.
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After high-level talks, the Presidents signed a Joint Statement that sets the direction for the next stage of bilateral relations. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign Ministries established regular political consultations, creating a structured, ongoing diplomatic mechanism.
One of the most meaningful outcomes was the signing of a protocol concluding the bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization. This is a key step that makes it even easier for Uzbekistan to trade with WTO member countries like Paraguay.
Both leaders agreed to significantly expand cooperation in trade and investment, as well as across several practical sectors.
Agriculture, food processing, and chemical industries were highlighted as immediate priority areas, given Paraguay’s strong agricultural base and Uzbekistan’s fast-developing processing capabilities.
Digitalization, tourism, and sports were mentioned as new spaces for collaboration, and President Peña’s participation in the General Assembly of the International Automobile Federation during his trip showed that sports diplomacy, especially in autosport, could become an unexpected but powerful bridge between the two nations as both leaders also talked about this industry during the high-level talks.
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The cultural dimension was not forgotten either. Both sides reaffirmed that humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchanges should become central pillars of the new partnership. To symbolize this renewed friendship, the two presidents planted a tree together on the Alley of Honored Guests.
Overall, this official visit introduced a new geography of cooperation, reflecting Uzbekistan’s broader foreign policy. President Peña’s visit created a foundation not only for Uzbekistan-Paraguay relations but also for future connections between Central Asia and Latin America as a whole.
It marked the transformation of a distant, modest diplomatic connection into a strategic partnership built on shared interests, mutual respect, and a forward-looking vision.
Adkhamjon Janobiddinov
Adkhamjon Janobiddinov is an independent researcher and journalist from Uzbekistan, focusing on Uzbekistan's foreign affairs, economy and tourism. He can be reached at thisisadhamjon@gmail.com
