The new Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Francisco Bermudez Amado on August 10 presented his credentials to President Chen Shui-bian.
The ceremony took place at 3 p.m. at the Office of the President. Ambassador Bermudez was accompanied to the Presidential Building by the Director of the Department of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth Y. F. Chu. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chen Chi-mai and Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang.
Upon the completion of the presentation of credentials by Ambassador Bermudez, President Chen, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), expressed his welcome to the ambassador on taking up his new position and his admiration for the strong academic background and experience of Ambassador Bermudez, saying that he is the perfect choice for the position.
President Chen noted that with a diplomatic alliance for over 60years, Taiwan and Guatemala have maintained cordial and friendly ties. A variety of cooperative projects continue to be carried out with remarkable accomplishments. Guatemala President Oscar Berger Perdomo and President Chen signed a free trade agreement on behalf of the two nations on September 22, 2005, with the agreement taking effect as of July 1 last year. The deal has been responsible for 133% growth in bilateral trade. In January this year, President Chen and President Berger held bilateral talks when the two attended the inauguration of Nicaragua President Jose Daniel Ortega Saavedra. President Chen invited President Berger to visit Taiwan, and President Berger made the trip just six months later. During the visit, the two countries signed agreements regarding the second stage expansion of the CA9 Highway in Guatemala, working to crack down on crime in Guatemala, agricultural technical cooperation as well as a letter of intent on conscription affairs.
President Chen said that Ambassador Bermudez received meritorious honors during a visit to Taiwan in July 2006. One year later, he has been appointed to serve as Ambassador to the ROC (Taiwan) from his previous position as Defense Minister. The president praised Ambassador Bermudez's appointment, saying that it symbolizes the importance that President Berger places on the alliance between the two countries.