By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Showcasing the Philippines’ commitment to strengthen ties with allied nations, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed Paraguay President Santiago Peña Palacios in a ceremony at Malacañang on Monday.
This ceremony marks the commencement of President Palacios’ two-day state visit, following the arrival of the Paraguayan leader and his delegation in Manila late Sunday.
Both leaders sang their respective nations’ anthems, complemented by a 21-gun salute rendered in honor of the first Paraguayan Chief Executive to visit the Southeast Asian nation since diplomatic relations were established on December 12, 1962.
After the ceremony, President Marcos Jr. invited his Paraguayan counterpart on a tour around the Palace complex before witnessing President Palacios’ signing of the Malacañang guest book.
This was followed by a bilateral meeting between both leaders, which served as a platform for sharing each others’ insights on areas of cooperation such as trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
These institutional and commercial exchanges are set to bolster the ties between Paraguay and the Philippines, thus opening another chapter in the history of both countries.
A watershed moment
In a separate event at Malacañang, President Marcos Jr. and Paraguayan President Palacios witnessed the signing of a Visa Waiver Agreement, a mutual provision that grants visa-free privileges to citizens of both nations.
Both leaders, likewise, welcome the signing of an MOU on Mutual Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training between the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which aims to foster closer collaboration between Filipino diplomats and their Paraguayan counterparts.
The MOU provides a framework to develop cooperative activities and training, skills development, information exchange, and other academic cooperation projects.
President Marcos Jr. said in his speech after the exchange of signed agreements, “I am actually very optimistic in that in our discussion earlier, what came out was a remarkable parallel in the way that our countries are developing ourselves and how we view our countries, the Philippines views itself as a gateway to Asia and Paraguay a gateway to Latin America.”
He added, “And that connection, should we make it and should we strengthen it, will be a remarkable boon not only to your country and mine, but also to the regions from where we come from.”
Expression of gratitude, optimism
Acknowledging President Marcos Jr.’s pronouncements on what he considers to be a productive visit of the Paraguayan leader and his delegation, President Palacios expressed high regard for this new chapter in the relationship of the Philippines and the Republic of Paraguay.
President Palacios likewise acknowledged the warm welcome and Filipino hospitality that he experienced during his stay in Manila, which complements the spirit of brotherhood championed in his two-day stint in the Southeast Asian nation.
The Paraguayan Chief Executive said of the visit, “It is the clearest expression of the political will of both governments to inaugurate a new phase in our bilateral relations, grounded in shared principles and values such as mutual respect, the rule of law, and a commitment to the economic development of our peoples.”
President Palacios went on to express his country’s intention to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which he says aligns with the principles of peace, respect for sovereignty, and peaceful settlement of disputes enshrined in Paraguay’s foreign policy.
This expression of commitment to mutilateralism in the Indo-Pacific region is complemented by his acknowledgement of the first concrete shipment of Paraguayan beef, pork, and poultry to the Philippines—a milestone that can possibly open further access to supplying Southeast Asia with quality meat products.
He likewise eyed further opportunities for introducing Paraguayan export offerings such as grain, maize, oilseeds, and agricultural products to the Philippines in a bid to enhance the Southeast Asian nation’s food security.
As the leader of Mercosur, a South American trade organization that promotes free trade and regional integration, President Palacios expressed his desire to foster ties between the six-nation bloc and the Southeast Asian nation, which would serve as the foundation for engagement between Mercosur and ASEAN in trade, investment, and value chains.
He addressed President Marcos Jr. in his closing spiel, “I have the confidence that we both came to this first meeting with high expectations. But I’m leaving this great nation with even greater expectations about the future of our two nations and our people.” (with report from Sheila Natividad | PTV News)
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