Representative Director of JAPOLAC Participated in the Reception Hosted by the President of Paraguay
Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), participated in a reception celebrating the Paraguay–Taiwan–Japan Friendship, hosted by H.E. Mr. Santiago Peña, President of the Republic of Paraguay, on Tuesday, May 22, 2025, at a hotel in Tokyo. The event was held as part of President Peña’s official visit to Japan, including Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai.
On this occasion, Dr. Diaz extended his heartfelt congratulations to H.E. Mr. Mario Toyotoshi, Ambassador of Paraguay to Japan, for the successful coordination of the presidential visit and its remarkable outcomes.
A major highlight of the visit was the formal elevation of Japan–Paraguay relations to a strategic partnership, underscoring Paraguay’s growing significance in Japan’s foreign policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean. This development marks a historic milestone in bilateral relations, paving the way for deeper collaboration in key areas of mutual interest.
Other important outcomes of the visit included an agreement in principle on a Japan–Paraguay Investment Agreement, aimed at encouraging greater economic exchange, and the waiver of short-term visa requirements for Paraguayan citizens, which is expected to promote stronger people-to-people ties and enhance opportunities for business and academic cooperation.
During his summit meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, President Peña reaffirmed Paraguay’s commitment to shared values such as democracy, the rule of law, and international cooperation. The two leaders agreed to strengthen collaboration in fields including trade, infrastructure, space technology, and strategic connectivity, with special emphasis on Paraguay’s Bioceanic Corridor, a project that aligns with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.
President Peña’s visit and the outcomes achieved during his stay in Japan signify a new chapter in the Japan–Paraguay partnership, reflecting the increasing importance of Latin America in Japan’s global diplomatic and economic engagement.
