President Tsai meets Panamanian Ambassador to ROC Alfredo Martiz Fuentes
Meeting on the morning of April 20 with Republic of Panama Ambassador to the ROC Alfredo Martiz Fuentes and Mrs. Martiz, President Tsai Ing-wen expressed hope to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Panama.
In remarks, President Tsai thanked Ambassador Martiz for the efforts he has made to promote Taiwan-Panama relations, and congratulated him on his promotion as the new director of Panama's Social Security Fund (CSS). On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China, the president conveyed her sincere best wishes to the ambassador.
President Tsai pointed out that since assuming his position in Taiwan in October 2014, Ambassador Martiz has helped promote a full range of political, economic, and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Panama, and brought about visits to Taiwan by Panamanian First Lady Lorena Isabel Castillo de Varela, Mayor Jose Isabel Blandon of Panama City, and President of the Supreme Court of Panama Jose Ayu Prado Canals. Thanks to the ambassador's efforts, she said, bilateral relations have become closer.
President Tsai noted that Ambassador Martiz will serve as CSS director after returning to Panama, and will thus be in a position of great influence, so it is clear that he is highly trusted by Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela. President Tsai expressed hope that after the ambassador takes up his new post he will continue, as an old friend of Taiwan's, to help consolidate Taiwan-Panama diplomatic ties.
The president further explained that it was a great honor for her to visit Panama last June and attend the inauguration ceremony for the Panama Canal Expansion, and while there she was treated with gracious hospitality by President Varela. She also expressed deep gratitude for the beautiful and perfectly tailored Panamanian clothing that she received from the First Lady. And finally, President Tsai asked Ambassador Martiz to convey her best regards to President and Mrs. Varela, and to extend an invitation for them to visit Taiwan sometime soon in order to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Panama.