A Paraguayan senator hopes that the South American country will establish a diplomatic relationship with China as the vast Chinese market holds abundant economic opportunities for its people.
Paraguay currently has no diplomatic relations with China due to its reluctance to sever official ties with China's Taiwan region. But it has a quite strong trade relationship with China.
"It is working to try to install the debate so that we analyze the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations, because we have commercial relations, but without diplomatic relations. We're doing in this regard. Paraguay has 30 percent of all imports from China. So, I think it is time to analyze the possibility of making a turn in our diplomatic relations," said Ever Villalba, a senator of Paraguay's Liberal Party.
Villalba believes cooperation with China benefits the Paraguayan people.
"It is a big country, a country with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants, everything we produce can be useful. It is an economic opportunity and in that relationship with a giant like China there could be many advantages for the Paraguayan people," he said.
Paraguayan senator calls for establishing diplomatic relations with China
Paraguayan senator calls for establishing diplomatic relations with China
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Tehran would view the United States and Israel's military bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" should Washington take military action against Iran.
At a parliamentary session convened to review an emergency proposal on assembly regulations, Qalibaf emphasized that, at this highly sensitive juncture, Iran must accurately and thoroughly identify the schemes of its adversaries.
Qalibaf said that Iran is currently confronting Israel and the United States simultaneously on four fronts: economic, cognitive, military, and counterterrorism. Of them, the economic warfare and the cognitive and psychological warfare began many years ago and have persisted to this day, growing increasingly complex and intense in recent years.
The remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran, taking advantage of its nationwide unrest.
Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall of the rial and long-standing economic hardship. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations and voiced willingness to address economic grievances, while warning against violence and vandalism.
Amid the ongoing protests, deadly clashes have been reported lately between police and what the government described as "rioters." However, no official death toll has been released.
Also on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the country's economic situation and political environment in a televised interview later that day.
Iran swears to counterattack if attacked
