President Chen Shui-bian arrived at a military airport in Guatemala on September 22. Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Briz Abularach welcomed the president on behalf of his government.
Accompanied by the foreign affairs minister, President Chen headed for Palacio Nacional, where he received a military salute presided by President Oscar Berger Perdomo. The two presidents reviewed the Guatemalan army. In a pledge of faith to pursue peace, the Guatemalan government arranged a simple and solemn ceremony in the national palace's courtyard in which President Berger removed old roses while President Chen placed the new flowers which symbolize peace in the country.
President Chen said after the ceremony that he believed the trip would bring closer the ties between Taiwan and Guatemala. The president also expected that one day both sides of the Taiwan Strait would replace missiles with roses and gain permanent peace.
After the military salute, leaders of the two countries met in the Palacio Nacional and signed four agreements on bilateral trade, sea transportation, air transportation and volunteer work. President Chen spoke after the event that the signing of the four agreements ushers in a new era in history, and that the partnership between Taiwan and Guatemala will become even more constructive. From now on, the people of the two countries will interact more in trade activities and create a win-win situation. Love and care from volunteer workers will also be filled in both societies.
In the afternoon, President Chen left for Universidad Francisco Marroquin and visited Museo Ixchel, which exhibits indigenous costumes, as well as a Mayan culture museum. He was impressed by the profound aboriginal and Mayan cultures. The president also visited a handcraft center.
Guatemalan President Berger hosted a state banquet for President Chen and his delegation in the evening. Both presidents spoke on the occasion. President Berger expressed his warmest welcome to the Taiwanese president and spoke of the friendship between them. President Berger said the two presidents met when both of them served as mayors of their capital cities. The two cities later became sisters, and both presidents took part in new elections afterwards. President Chen vied for the second term as Taipei mayor, while President Berger campaigned for his first presidency. President Berger failed later in the election, and the Taiwanese president wrote him a letter as an encouragement. The Guatemalan president said the letter has meant a lot to him and that the letter has symbolized the profound friendship between the two presidents. President Berger also extended his gratitude toward President Chen when Chen told him that as long as he has the will to serve his people, he will be given the chance some day. The Guatemalan president thanked President Chen for his encouragement, and said he has kept all these in mind.
President Chen's speech:
I've been to many of the state banquets in Central America, and the event today is one that is the most on time. We don't have to wait for two to three hours, and we don't have to wait until 11 p.m. before having the first dish, because we have here a president who values punctuality -- President Berger. In the past, guests had to wait for the presidents, but this time it is the two presidents waiting for the guests. I hope that the state banquets that I will be attending later on during this trip can be as punctual as this one.
This is my second visit to Guatemala, and the state banquet this evening is so much better than the one that we received back in May 2001. The party last time was held in the room that we had the bilateral talks this morning, and the scale was much smaller. The warm and enthusiastic hospitality of President Berger has touched us a lot, and we are very thankful for it. In fact, the president and I just met each other in mid-August in Taipei. I had proposed to the president that we meet each other again in Managua, Nicaragua, where I will be attending a summit. But the president told me that according to the Guatemala constitution, both president and vice president cannot travel abroad at the same time. While Vice President Eduardo Stein has scheduled a meeting abroad, President Berger will have no chance but to stay in the country. Good friends are like couples and lovers. If you can't come to me, I come to you. Therefore, Guatemala has become the first stop in my visit in CentAm. This has drawn grumbles. A leader of one of our allies asked President Berger why he could not go to Managua to meet me. Instead, it is the A-bian of Taiwan who came to your country. President Berger replied that the relation between he and I is different, so is the relation between Guatemala and Taiwan.
I would like to add a few points in addition to what President Berger just mentioned. We've known each other since April 1998, when both of us served as mayors in our capitals. Both of us had goals to achieve back then. I was seeking a second term as the Taipei mayor, and he was looking to become the president of Guatemala. We wished each other good luck, and said goodbye. Later, I lost my bid for the second term, and Berger's quest for presidency was unsuccessful. I think it was God's will that led me to this situation. I wouldn't have the chance to run for the presidential election in 2000, had I won the mayoral election. As to the reason why he lost his presidential bid, President Berger told me in private that it is because I have to become the president first, and then he can be the president. By the time he won his first presidency, it became my turn to seek another term. He encouraged me to win this second term, so both of us can get together again as presidents. I, therefore, feel honored and entitled to the right to accept this luxurious banquet hosted by President Berger. Another reason why I can't wait to come to Guatemala is because President Berger used to give me the country's famous Zacapa, which I liked so much that I've finished it long ago. I missed the Zacapa, and I came here also for the Zacapa.
There are also two points that I would like to address. Guatemala spent 36 years in the civil war, while Taiwan experienced 38 years of martial law. Even till now, the 23 million people of Taiwan are still living under the threat of the 706 Chinese missiles. We have honored democracy, and we love freedom. We want no war but peace. The peace monument decorated with roses that I saw this morning during the welcome ceremony reminded me of our hope that we expect and urge that the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait could replace missiles with roses. The civil war in your country has ended, a permanent peace treaty has been signed, and you now have the peace that is permanent and genuine. We hope that there will also be peace across the Strait, and we too can have the kind of peace that is permanent and true. Secondly, as I went to the luncheon hosted by Mr. Jorge Briz Abularach, the foreign affairs minister told me something that touched me a great deal. Guatemala originally planned to set up a trade office in China in June this year. And I brought up my opinions to President Berger over this matter, and the president agreed with me. My opinion over the situation has been proven right, especially if you look at what happened recently. China does not mean to help out Guatemala, and it does not mean to improve the lives of the Guatemalans. What it really is up to is to destroy the 70 years of friendship between Guatemala and Taiwan. It wants Guatemala to sever ties with Taiwan. But I believe that the friendship between us has been solid and firm that it can not be destroyed by any of the countries, especially China. I also believe that the friendship and formal diplomatic relations between Guatemala and Taiwan are going to be like Zacapa, which gets more mellow over time.
In closing, I would like to invite all distinguished guests to join me in a toast to the good health of President Berger, to the prosperity of Guatemala, and to the everlasting friendship of Taiwan and Guatemala.
President Chen's speech at the military review ceremony:
I am happy to be here at the invitation of Guatemalan President Berger. I want to give the warmest greetings from the government and the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to President Berger, the Guatemalan government and your people.
I came here in May 2001, and was very impressed by the country and the customs and culture. The Republic of Guatemala is a country of ancient civilization. It has the world's most well-reserved Mayan relics. The beautiful scenic spots have always taken tourists by surprise. Guatemala also has the world's most important natural and cultural heritages, with its society filled with the wisdom and essence that come from a marvelous civilization and culture. What is impressive in particular is the hospitality that the Guatemalan people have demonstrated. I am filled with awe, with joy, and with anticipation as I re-visit Guatemala today -- the origin of an ancient civilization.
Both governments and peoples of Taiwan and Guatemala believe in democracy and love freedom and peace. Because of this, our friendship has grown even stronger throughout the 70 years of time. In recent years, this friendship is getting closer and a lot better through high-level visits among government officials as well as cooperation and exchanges in politics, economy, technology, education, culture, and sports.
During this visit I will be exchanging opinions with President Berger on issues concerning the interests of both sides. We will also sign a free trade agreement, sea and air transportation accords, and an agreement on the volunteer work in both countries. I believe the trip would strengthen the cooperation and friendship between Taiwan and Guatemala.
I want to thank again our most-respected President Berger for the warm welcome. It is thought-provoking to me as I see right now a peace monument with roses in the Palacio Nacional. The 1996 permanent peace agreement between guerrillas and your government originated from here. We see that the roses put here need to be changed every day. It reminds people whoever come here of the importance of being humble. We must be aware of this humbleness in order to bring true and permanent peace. We expect that one day the Taiwan Strait could replace missiles with roses, just like the roses on the peace monument in your Palacio Nacional do. And then we can have eternal peace.
Finally, I extend to you my warmest wishes for good health and much success in all your endeavors. I wish the best of health to President Berger, and the prosperity of Taiwan and Guatemala.
President Chen also gave a speech after the signing of the "Taiwan-Guatemala Free Trade Agreement." The president's speech:
I am very happy today to be able to sign with President Berger the "Taiwan-Guatemala Free Trade Agreement." This is the first of its kind in Taiwan's five CentAm allies, and the second FTA that ROC (Taiwan) has ever signed. It symbolizes a significant improvement in the economic relationship between Taiwan and Guatemala.
The 21st century is an era of globalization and trade liberalization. This is a trend that every nation in the world must follow. The FTA between Taiwan and Guatemala is signed for this reason. Through the elimination of trading blocks economies of the two countries get boosted. Ties with respect to trade, investment and technology are strengthened. Business opportunities are increased, and so are the job opportunities and the welfare of the people. The FTA would also lead to the enhancement of the two countries' competitiveness, so both Guatemala and Taiwan can meet the challenge of globalization and liberalization.
Taiwanese businesspeople have long been experts in the market of the Asia-Pacific region. Guatemala will be provided with an even convenient channel for its products to market in this region after the FTA becomes effective, if both Guatemalan and Taiwan businesses can seize opportunities at the opportune time. Also, the Taiwanese products will be given the opportunities to enter the Latin American market. The Central American Free Trade Agreement that Guatemala has signed with the U.S. will be put into effect next January. And the FTA signed today by the ROC (Taiwan) and Guatemala raises for both governments, as well as private sectors, the issues about how we can explore the north American market, and about how Guatemala and Taiwan can co-invest and form joint ventures in the market. This is also one of the reasons why I am leading the delegation here.
As the FTA between Guatemala and Taiwan is signed, accords on the bilateral sea and air transportation are also accomplished today. I hold the firm belief that although Taiwan and Guatemala is far in distance, the implementation of the two accords will pave the way for more cooperation in terms of the sea and air transportations of the private sectors of the two countries. This will also create a favorable climate for the two of us to promote business interactions and cultural and tourist exchanges. I am highly affirmative about the achievement that the people of Guatemala and Taiwan have been able to complete such a significant free trade agreement within such a short time span of six months.
Today Taiwan and Guatemala also signed an agreement. According to the agreement, Taiwan will provide volunteer efforts to facilitate the works of the Guatemalan central and local governments and contribute our efforts to the country's national construction and social development. This, I believe, will improve the understanding between Taiwan and Guatemala and will help expand the level that the two countries can cooperate with each other.
With the signing of the FTA, sea and air transportation accords, and a volunteer work agreement, the friendship between Taiwan and Guatemala enters in a new era in history. From now on, the peoples of the two countries will interact more in trade activities and create a win-win situation. Love and care from volunteer workers will also be filled in both societies.
Last but not least, I want to extend the deepest admiration and gratitude on behalf of the government and the 23 million people of the ROC (Taiwan) to the efforts made by the administration of President Berger. I wish that friendship between the two countries stays true forever and that progress can always be made. May the two countries enjoy continuous prosperity and good health and much success in all your endeavors.