President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of January 13 at the Presidential Office met with Republic of Paraguay Senate President and President of the Congress Enrique González Quintana and Mrs. González. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), expressed a cordial welcome to the visitors for making the long trip to visit Taiwan.
President Ma noted that Senate President González previously led a delegation to Taiwan five years ago in his capacity as chairman of Paraguay's National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE). President Ma said that last August when he headed a delegation to attend the inauguration of Paraguay President Fernando Lugo he had an opportunity to meet with Senate President González and exchange opinions with him. The president expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to once again meet with Senate President González, adding that this visit by Senate President González is a symbol that relations between Taiwan and Paraguay continue to develop.
President Ma said that the two countries have maintained a close relationship since the establishment of diplomatic ties. During his meeting with Senate President González last year, President Ma stressed that relations between the two nations would continue to strengthen. He said that existing cooperation projects will continue and will be extended if appropriate. Over the past eight months, he said, various cooperation projects between Taiwan and Paraguay have exhibited good results. The president expressed his hopes that trade and economic interaction between the two countries will continue to expand in the future.
Senate President González expressed his appreciation to President Ma for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with him. He also introduced to President Ma the senators accompanying him on this trip. He commented that Taiwan is an important ally of Paraguay. The two countries share the common values of freedom and democracy, he said, adding that in the future the two nations will certainly continue to enhance their bilateral relationship based on the existing foundation.
The Republic of Paraguay Senate delegation led by Senate President González included Senator José Manuel Bóbeda Melgarejo, Senator María Digna Roa Rojas and Senator Lino Oviedo Sánchez. The group was accompanied to the Presidential Office in the morning by Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco H. L. Ou and Republic of Paraguay Ambassador to the ROC Ramón Díaz Pereira to meet President Ma. Also in attendance was National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi.