Paraguay's President Santiago Peña received his Chilean counterpart José Antonio Kast at the Palacio de López in Asunción on Wednesday for an official visit that strengthened bilateral ties between the two countries. During the meeting, cooperation agreements on taxation and human trafficking were signed.
Foreign Ministers Rubén Ramírez Lezcano (Paraguay) and Francisco Pérez Mackenna (Chile) signed the Convention to Avoid Double Taxation, which establishes mechanisms against tax evasion and seeks greater legal certainty for companies operating between the two nations. A memorandum of understanding was also signed to enhance cooperation in combating human trafficking, including information sharing and training.
In his remarks, Peña emphasized the importance of the Bioceanic Corridor, which will connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as a strategic project for regional integration. Kast, in turn, praised Paraguay’s tax model and stated that commercial ties between the countries could generate more jobs in Chile, which is facing rising unemployment.
In the afternoon, Kast was honored in a formal session at Paraguay’s Senate, presided over by Basilio Núñez. The Chilean leader highlighted the 180 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between the nations and the need for greater economic integration in the region. "Together we have better opportunities to access markets like Asia," he said.
The visit follows Kast’s participation in the Mercosur Summit and marks the start of his first regional tour as president. After Paraguay, the Chilean leader will travel to Uruguay.