Reference News Website, January 30 report: According to EFE news agency, on January 27, the Japanese and Southern Common Market delegations held their first meeting within the framework of a strategic partnership in Paraguay, emphasizing the "complementarity of both economies," the importance of strengthening trade, and opportunities for cooperation in the field of energy transition.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay stated in a statement that this meeting marked the official launch of the cooperation mechanism. The mechanism was reached at the previous Southern Common Market summit held in Iguassu, Brazil.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay said, "During the meeting, both delegations exchanged views on the strategic importance of the relationship between the Southern Common Market and Japan, emphasizing the complementarity of both economies and the importance of strengthening trade and investment." Paraguay is the current rotating chair of the Southern Common Market.
At the same time, both sides also discussed the integration of value chains and opportunities for cooperation in areas such as energy transition and the digital economy.
The statement detailed the meeting held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Asuncion, Paraguay. Patricia Frutos, Deputy Minister of Economic Relations and Integration of Paraguay, and Shigenori Ishisaka, Director of the South and Central America Department of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting. Ishisaka was visiting Paraguay for the first time.
According to a joint statement released by the Southern Common Market and the Japanese government, on December 21 last year, Japan and the Southern Common Market agreed to strengthen their relations through the establishment of a strategic partnership framework, which aims to deepen ties between the two in areas such as trade, investment, supply chain resilience, and energy transition.
On January 27, Ishisaka also met with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez, and the two discussed matters related to advancing the negotiations on the free trade agreement between the Southern Common Market and Japan.
Following the signing of the free trade agreement between the Southern Common Market and the European Union on January 17 in Asuncion, this South American group has turned its attention to deepening its cooperation with other major global partners, especially focusing on Asia. (Translated by Wang Meng)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7601113011968885291/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.