Paraguay president-elect to strengthen ties with Taiwan

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Paraguay's President-elect Santiago Pena announced that his country will “strengthen historic ties” with Taiwan after a 20-minute telephone call Friday with his counterpart.

“Thanks, President (Tsai) Ing-wen for the congratulations call. We will keep strengthening the historic ties between Paraguay and the Republic of China (Taiwan), and look forward to working together on mutually beneficial cooperation projects for our countries in the years ahead,” he wrote on Twitter.

The two leaders reaffirmed relations between Taipei and its only diplomatic ally in South America.

"This morning I spoke with Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Pena to congratulate him on his victory and thank him for his continued support and friendship with Taiwan. I look forward to working together to advance bilateral cooperation and the welfare of the two peoples," said Tsai.

Pena, 44, Paraguay’s conservative ruling party candidate, won the presidential election last Sunday against center-left opposition candidate Efrain Alegre, defusing fears that diplomatic ties with Taiwan might have been cut.

The presidential campaign touched on controversial foreign policy issues, including Paraguay’s relations with Taiwan.

Paraguay is one of 13 nations to maintain ties with the island that has lost support from other Central American nations in recent years.

Alegre criticized the relationship during the campaign saying it has made it tough for Paraguay to export soy and beef to China -- a major global buyer.

With Pena´s victory, the Colorado Party will maintain its decades-long hold on power despite internal conflicts and corruption allegations against former President Horacio Cartes, who is the current party leader.

Pena was finance minister in the Cartes government and until recently, a member of the board of Banco Basa, a local bank owned by the former president.