Today, President Chen Shui-bian received Mr. Jorge Mendez Herbruger, the President of the Guatemalan Parliament. President Chen expressed his sincerest gratitude and welcomed Mr. Herbruger and members of his visiting group that was made up of members from different political parties in the Guatemalan parliament.
President Chen said that he also once served as a Member of Parliament and as a political party leader. The president reminisced about leading a delegation to visit Guatemala in May 2001 where he also delivered a speech to the Guatemalan parliament.
Members of Guatemala's ruling and opposition parties welcomed him and showed him warm hospitality. Vice President Annette Lu was also once a Member of Parliament and in March this year, she visited Guatemala where a banquet was held in her honor receiving several commendations. In 1991, the Taiwan-Guatemala Parliament Friendship Alliance was established. President Chen expressed his gratitude to the Guatemalan Parliament for passing a resolution every year in support of Taiwan's admission to the United Nations.
President Chen also expressed gratitude for the establishment of a website for the parliaments of both countries. The website serves as a forum for opinion interchange to strengthen technological exchanges and cooperation. He said that he made an overseas call to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger recently and invited him to come to Taiwan. President Berger promised he would come to Taipei to attend and give a speech at the inaugural ceremony of the Democratic Pacific Union in mid August.
President Chen also said that Taiwan and Guatemala enjoy close economic and trade relations. Both countries plan to sign a Free Trade Agreement and are presently holding intense discussions. President Chen expressed his appreciation for this and said he believed that the Agreement would be signed when President Berger comes to Taiwan.
The President hoped that the visiting parliamentarians would share in Taiwan's experiences and its economic and political achievements, and continue supporting Taiwan's endeavors to join various international organizations.
Mr. Jorge Mendez Herbruger reaffirmed that the Guatemalan parliament remains firm in its support for Taiwan and expressed his belief that the friendship between the two countries would remain strong and long lasting. Mr. Herbruger said that Guatemala is highly supportive of the Free Trade Agreement and said that he hoped both countries would further strengthen their interchange and cooperation.