BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) - U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Christopher McMullen visited Paraguay Thursday as part of Washington's efforts to recover its influence in South America.

    According to information reaching here from Asuncion, capital of Paraguay, McMullen held talks with Paraguayan Vice Foreign Minister Jorge Lara Castro.

    McMullen told local press that his tour was designed to express the U.S. willingness to work with the Paraguayan government led by President Fernando Lugo in such fields as fights against poverty and corruption.

    The ties between the United States and some South American countries have been chilled recently. Both Venezuela and Bolivia expelled the U.S. ambassadors in September, while Ecuador announced that it will not renew the agreement that leases Manta military base to the Untied States when the lease expires next year.