Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of September 15 conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon on the Republic of Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies President Hugo A. Velazquez Moreno in recognition of his outstanding contributions to promoting the alliance between the two countries.

After receiving the order, Mr. Velazquez stated that this is his second visit to the ROC and that he was extremely honored to receive this decoration from President Ma. In addition to indicating that he feels an even greater responsibility in promoting cooperative relations between the ROC and Paraguay, Mr. Velazquez said that this order also recognizes the efforts of all of his colleagues in the Chamber of Deputies.

Mr. Velazquez remarked that ROC-Paraguay relations have consistently been quite close and friendly. In April of this year, the Chamber of Deputies passed two statements supporting the ROC's participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization, both of which were concrete expressions of the legislative chamber's support for the ROC, he said. Mr. Velazquez went on to say that he immediately sent a letter of support to President Ma following the unveiling of his South China Sea Peace Initiative. In addition, ROC Ambassador to Paraguay Liu Der-li (劉德立) has spared no effort in promoting friendly relations between the two countries, which has won him a place in the hearts of the Paraguayan people, said Mr. Velazquez. All of these gestures show the deep friendship and frequent interaction between the two sides, according to Mr. Velazquez.

Mr. Velazquez then said that the two nations have engaged in close interaction and cooperation in a wide range of areas since establishing diplomatic ties in 1957. For instance, the ROC has actively promoted the "Che Tapyi" bilateral cooperation project to construct public housing in Paraguay. The ROC also provides Paraguayan schoolchildren with scholarships, as well as a range of assistance in agricultural technology. All of these initiatives have helped to enhance the wellbeing of the Paraguayan people, he said. Mr. Velazquez closed his remarks by expressing his hope for even deeper bilateral relations in the future that will be mutually beneficial and promote co-prosperity.

Among those witnessing the ceremony were Chamber of Deputies President Velazquez's wife Lourdes Samaniego de Velazquez, Paraguayan Ambassador to the ROC Marcial Bobadilla Guillen, Secretary-General to the President Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Shen-Yeaw Ko (柯森耀).