President Chen Shui-bian on July 24 met Paraguay Foreign Minister Ruben Dario Ramirez Lezcano and Mrs. Ramirez at the Presidential Office.
The president said that earlier this month, Vice President Annette Lu made her third trip to Paraguay on behalf of the government and the 23 million people of Taiwan to participate in a series of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During her visit, Vice President Lu received a warm welcome from Paraguay President Nicanor Duarte Frutos, Foreign Minister Ramirez and the people of Paraguay. President Chen expressed his gratitude to Paraguay for helping make Vice President Lu's trip a success.
The president also said that he made a second state visit to Paraguay in May of last year and was extremely pleased with that trip. At the time, he and President Duarte arranged to meet in Taipei in October of last year. Various events, however, caused President Duarte's trip to be delayed, for which President Chen expressed regret. He said that he recently spoke with President Duarte over the telephone and invited him and the First Lady to make a state visit to Taiwan in October this year for National Day celebrations. President Duarte has accepted the invitation, and President Chen said that his presence will add to the festivities.
President Chen noted that bilateral trade between Taiwan and Paraguay reached nearly US$80 million last year, which was a rise of 13.5% from the previous year. He said the Taiwan government is presently in the process of re-examining beef import quotas with the hope of increasing imports of beef from Paraguay.
President Chen said that prior to his taking office as president, Taiwan each year offered only three scholarships to students from Paraguay to study in Taiwan. Since his inauguration, the number of slots allotted for students from Paraguay has risen gradually. In 2005, the number of scholarships increased to 20, and plans are to make scholarships available to 100 students from Paraguay in 2008, he said.
President Chen furthermore said that the government and people of Taiwan deeply appreciate the staunch support provided by Paraguay when Taiwan sought to enter the World Health Organization in May last year, as well as the efforts made on Taiwan's behalf by Paraguay regarding the issue of Taiwan's membership in the World Organization for Animal Health. The president said the 23 million people of Taiwan should not be deprived of their right to health and their political rights, adding that while Taiwan failed to join the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" this time, the government and people of Taiwan will not give up due to this setback.