(4 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Asuncion, Paraguay – 03 May 2024
1. Paraguay’s president Santiago Peña welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
2. Peña and Kishida pose as they shake hands
3. Various of Peña and Kishida during national anthems
4. Peña and Kishida giving joint statements
5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Fumio Kishida, Japanese Prime Minister:
"Furthermore, we will work with Paraguay, which holds the Mercosur Presidency in the first half of this year, to strengthen our economic relationship with Mercosur."
6. Peña and Kishida
7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Fumio Kishida, Japanese Prime Minister:
"I am confident that the trade and investment relationship between Japan and Paraguay will become even closer through this business forum attended by our fellow companies."
8. Peña and Kishida
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Santiago Peña, President of Paraguay:
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"Today, Paraguay, from its place as ‘pro-Tempore’ president of Mercosur, is leading commercial initiatives such as the recent free trade agreement between Mercosur and Singapore, the agreement that is currently being negotiated between Mercosur and the United Arab Emirates and the I fervently hope that we can advance a free trade agreement between Mercosur and Japan.”
10. Peña and Kishida leave news conference
11. Lopez’ Presidential Palace
STORYLINE:
The president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, welcomed Friday the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, and said he hoped bilateral ties would advance the regional integration and cooperation agenda.
In a joint statement at the Lopez government palace in Asuncion, Peña expressed his desire for negotiations to advance with the Mercosur bloc (Southern Common Market), which consists of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
"Today, Paraguay, from its place as ‘pro-Tempore’ president of Mercosur, is leading commercial initiatives such as the recent free trade agreement between Mercosur and Singapore, the agreement currently being negotiated between Mercosur and the United Arab Emirates, and the I fervently hope that we can advance a free trade agreement between Mercosur and Japan,” said Peña.
For his part, the Japanese Prime Minister highlighted Paraguay’s importance for Japanese companies’ businesses, and his government’s intentions to "strengthen our economic relationship with Mercosur."
Kishida’s visit to Paraguay is part of an official tour that has taken him to Brazil and France.
Paraguay and Japan established diplomatic ties in 1919, celebrating 105 years of relations this year.
AP Video by Emilio Sanabria
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