ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay — President Santiago Peña stated Paraguay and Taiwan are “not just allies, but also brothers” when he was sworn in because the South American nation’s new president on Tuesday.

Peña took the presidential oath exterior the federal government palace within the capital of Asunción in a ceremony attended by a number of regional leaders and Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai.

Paraguay is the one nation in South America, and a member of a dwindling group of 12 governments all over the world, to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It misplaced a key ally within the area earlier this yr when Honduras reduce diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

“We will build alliances and cooperation with a geostrategic vision, seeking horizontal agreements,” Peña stated, noting that the nation’s relationship with Taiwan “is an example of this and of Paraguay’s friendly and cooperative spirit with nations for which we have deep affection and with whom we feel not only as allies, but also like brothers.”

Before leaving on the journey Saturday, Lai stated his go to to Paraguay was partially “so that the international society understands Taiwan is a country that persists in its democracy, human rights and freedom and actively takes part in international affairs.” Lai stopped in New York en path to Paraguay and was planning to cease in San Francisco on his approach again residence.

When Peña, 44, visited Taiwan in July, he instructed President Tsai Ing-wen his nation would “stand with the people of Taiwan” throughout his five-year time period.

Peña, an economist, simply gained election earlier this yr, protecting the long-ruling Colorado Party in energy for 5 extra years.

Taiwan’s ambassador to Paraguay, José Han, printed photographs on social media of Lai making chipa, a standard cheese-flavored roll, and consuming tereré, an infusion fashionable within the South American nation. “He loved the traditional flavors of Paraguay,” the ambassador wrote.

Taiwan had grow to be a thorny challenge throughout Paraguay’s presidential marketing campaign as Peña’s essential challenger argued the alliance had grow to be too expensive as a result of it prevented the small nation from pursuing enterprise alternatives with China.

In his inaugural speech, Peña, a conservative, business-friendly president, praised former President Horacio Cartes (2013-2018), the top of the Colorado Party who has been accused by Washington of involvement in “significant corruption.” The U.S. authorities accuses him of bribing authorities officers and legislators and of getting ties to individuals who increase cash for the Hezbollah group, which Washington has deemed a terrorist group.

“Thank you for persevering, without faltering, in the construction of consensus and in the pursuit of agreements above differences,” Peña stated in phrases addressed to Cartes. “Today, it is our turn to bring that political calling to the service of all Paraguayans.”

Spain’s King Felipe VI attended the inauguration ceremony as did presidents from the area, together with Luis Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Alberto Fernández of Argentina, and Gabriel Boric of Chile.

“Success is making sure all Paraguayans are better off, and that the world becomes witness to the resurgence of a giant,” Peña stated.

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