President Chen welcomed Guatemalan President Oscar Jose Rafael Berger Perdomo and his wife as they led a visiting delegation to Taiwan this morning. The president expressed his gratitude and respect to his distinguished visitors on behalf of the Republic of China's government and its people.
Accompanying the two president's meeting at the Presidential Office was secretary general Yu and his wife, foreign minister Mark Chen and his wife, as well as Taiwanese ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala Mr. Francisco Ou Hong-lien.
After apologizing for the First Lady's absence, the president told his guests that their visit brought good luck as the looming typhoon that was suppose to make landfall failed to do so, thus allowing for a military welcome ceremony. And since it was three days from President Oscar Berger's 59th birthday, the Taiwanese president also wished his friend a joyous birthday.
President Chen said that he was pleased to meet President Berger so soon after their phone conversation on June 6th. President Chen recalled in October of 1998, when they were both city mayors, having signed a Sister-City agreement together, and now, joking that it must be an arrangement from God, both are presidents. President Chen further made light of the situation by telling President Berger how in 1998 he only wanted to be reelected to the municipality, only to lose and be voted president in 2000. And with President Berger losing the Guatemalan presidential elections in 1999 only to succeed in winning it in 2003, President Chen said that perhaps their memorable meeting today as presidents was also a testament of God's will.
President Chen was also pleased that President Berger brought a few of his cabinet ministers along for the Democratic Pacific Union's inauguration. After the inauguration, President Chen will be taking his Guatemalan counterpart to the Taroko National Park in Hualien, where few visitors leave without being impressed by the magnificent and breathtaking creations of Mother Nature.
Looking forward to strengthening cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala, President Chen expressed his willingness to help its diplomatic ally's national development. The Taiwanese president also urged his friend to continue to be Taiwan's voice at the upcoming General Assembly of the United Nations and stated that he hopes that Guatemala will remain steadfast in its support of Taiwan. President Chen said he was also optimistic that their Free Trade Agreement will be passed by parliament, signifying the positive bilateral commercial relations shared by the two countries.