Taipei, Jan 10 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian expressed hope Monday that he can travel to the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion this year to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte Frutos.
Chen made the remarks when he bestowed the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon upon visiting speaker of the Paraguayan House of Representatives Oscar Ruben Salomon Fernandez.
The president also expressed appreciation for Duarte's attendance of his second-term inauguration May 20 last year, saying that he was the first leader of a Republic of China ally to visit since he won re-election.
He and Duarte pledged at that time to promote the signing of an FTA between the two countries, Chen said.
The medal-conferring ceremony was also attended by the Paraguayan Lower House's First Deputy Speaker Juan Bartolome Ramirez, Paraguayan
Ambassador to the Republic of China Ramon Antero Diaz Pereira, Presi dential Office Vice Secretary-General James Huang and Vice Foreign Minister Francisco Hwang.