Paraguay and Japan Foreign Ministers call for “revitalization” of economic ties

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The two countries’ Foreign Ministers held a meeting in Tokyo this Monday during Acevedo’s 3-day visit to the Asian country focused on strengthening ties between the two nations, the Paraguayan government announced.

Hayashi and Acevedo shared their common views on “the need to revitalize economic ties” between the two countries, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement after the meeting.

Accordingly, Japan will offer Paraguay “technical assistance to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises” aimed at “supporting a quick economic recovery and revitalization of Paraguayan society” after the impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hayashi also highlighted that Japan has been supplying medical equipment to Paraguay during the pandemic, and stressed that it “will continue to extend its cooperation to the country’s economic and social development, including in infrastructure.”

The Japanese Minister also underlined the friendship ties between the two countries, and recalled that Paraguay hosts approximately 10,000 descendants of Japanese immigrants, in addition to being “an important partner” with which Tokyo shares the values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.

The two Foreign Ministers also expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation on international issues such as the maintenance of stability in the Indian-Pacific region or in the fight against global warming, the Japanese Ministry said.

Acevedo ended his visit to Japan this Monday, and in addition to his meeting with his Japanese counterpart, he met with other authorities and officials in the field of cooperation.

One of the visit’s goals was to coordinate measures for a future official visit to Japan by Paraguay’s president Mario Abdo Benítez, according to the government in Asunción.

The Paraguayan Foreign Minister’s trip to Tokyo took place after a visit to Paraguay earlier this year by former Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.