At the beginning of the VI Meeting of the Permanent Mechanism for Consultations and Political Coordination between Paraguay and Chile, held virtually, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Antonio Rivas Palacios and Andrés Allamand Zavala, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Strategic Planning, on the outline of state policies that provide greater predictability and prospects for concrete results, the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry reported.
Later, according to the statement, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador José Antonio Dos Santos, and the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Raúl Fernández, discussed the various topics of the busy bilateral agenda and exchanged views on the current regional situation within the framework of the aforementioned meeting. Ambassador Dos Santos was accompanied by the Vice Minister of Economic Relations and Integration, Didier Olmedo.
The Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs highlighted the excellent level of relations between Paraguay and Chile and expressed their interest in advancing issues of mutual interest.
Equally They discussed the efforts and measures implemented by their respective governments in the context of the health crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Paraguayan delegation expressed its gratitude for the support provided by the Chilean government for the return of its compatriots to the country.
In order to further strengthen the ties between Paraguay and Chile, the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio dos Santos and Raúl Fernández, highlighted the following:
1- The shared vision of its Leaders on the Addressing various bilateral and multilateral issuess.
2- The interest in holding the Second Meeting of the Binational Council of Ministers of both countries in person, in Asunción, when the health situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic allows it.
3- The will to hold meetings of the pending mechanisms in the areas of Economic-Commercial, Drugs, Integration, Defense, Culture, Education and Science, with the purpose of resuming issues of common interest.
4- The importance of Strengthen trade relations between the two countriesThe Paraguayan side highlighted the importance of Chile in bilateral trade, taking into account that this country is the third destination for Paraguayan exports and represents the first market for our country's meat.
5)- The significance of the start of the first stage of negotiations, soon, for the deepening of the Economic Complementation Agreement No. 35, which will lead to a Free Trade Agreement between Paraguay and Chile, which will cover other commercial disciplines and will allow us to enhance our capabilities to achieve mutual benefits.
6- The Paraguayan side highlighted the importance of move forward with the renegotiation of the current Double Taxation Agreement, adapting it to the requirements of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
7- Both parties agreed to reactivate the bilateral instance of the Agreement on Land Transport (ATIT) to address issues of common interest. As well as the interest in resuming the issues on the bilateral agenda within the scope of the High Level Commission for the establishment of Free Trade Zones and Warehouses in both countries and outlining actions in accordance with the agreements signed in 1968 and 1974.
8- Both parties highlighted the Relevance of the Bioceanic Corridor from the point of view of physical, economic, political and social integration. The Paraguayan side highlighted the progress of the works in the country, despite the pandemic and the budget cuts that may arise as a result of the health crisis.
9- The Importance of Strengthening Connectivity This will allow Paraguay to have sovereign control over its fiber optic connection. As well as the interest in continuing to advance in the feasibility study for the implementation of the Asia-South America Digital Gateway Project.
10- The fluid relationship in the field of Security and Defense, highlighting the granting of scholarships granted by Chile for Military Officers and the National Police of Paraguay. Likewise, Paraguay and Chile committed to advance in the negotiation process of the Cooperation Agreement in Defense Matters. Likewise, Chile's willingness to cooperate in Cybersecurity, Cybercrime for data protection was highlighted, taking into account Chile's vast experience and its international recognition in the matter.
11- The coincidence in having an instrument that formalizes the dialogue between the Foreign Ministries of both countries on Human Rights, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and Paraguay's offer to establish a national mechanism to monitor reports in Chile, based on the experience of SIMORE Plus.
12- Efficient coordination for the Biannual Programs for Scientific and Technical Cooperation, South-South and Triangular. They also agreed to resume the agenda of the educational and cultural sector by calling for a meeting of the Joint Commission.
13- The interest of both countries in Sharing experiences and good practices in the energy sector, and
14- The need to renew the Cooperation Agreement between Diplomatic Academies of both Foreign Ministries for the academic and practical training of their diplomats.
Finally, both Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs highlighted the agreement between both countries regarding the treatment and proposal of initiatives related to regional issues within the framework of PROSUR, the Lima Group, the Quito Process, among others.
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